What Is the Ruling on Standing for a National Anthem and Then Remaining Standing Silently During Christian Prayer at School When Unable to Leave?

Second: Remaining Standing During the Prayer of the Christians. Their saying, “In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,” and their supplication to Isa عليه السلام are among the religious rituals of Christianity that contradict the Tawhid of Allah the Exalted. Therefore, it is not permissible for a Muslim to repeat these words, supplicate to Isa عليه السلام, make the sign of the cross, or perform anything from the rituals of their prayer.

Third: What Should He Do if the School Forces Him to Remain? If the school does not allow him to leave and he fears a genuine punishment that he is unable to avoid, then he should remain silent while rejecting the matter in his heart. He should not repeat anything from the prayer, say “Ameen” to it, make the sign of the cross, or perform any movement specific to their prayer.

Fourth: A Practical Solution for the Questioner I advise the questioner, or his guardian, to speak clearly and politely with the school administration and request that he be exempted from standing during the Christian prayer for religious reasons, and that he be permitted to wait outside the area or enter after the prayer has ended. If he is able to arrive at school after the national anthem and morning prayer have ended, without this resulting in considerable harm or a violation that he cannot reasonably bear, then this is one of the best solutions because it removes the problem from its source. He should not remain present at these ceremonies and then claim that he is compelled to attend them if an easy and available means of avoiding them exists. Fifth: Studying in a Catholic School in the First Place There is an important point to mention here. The questioner stated that he studies at a Catholic high school. Such an environment requires caution because it may include Christian religious rituals and the teaching of their beliefs, in addition to other prohibited matters that may exist in some school environments. If the school requires him to study Christian doctrine or attend their religious lessons and rituals, then the matter is more serious because this exposes the Muslim's Aqeedah to fitnah and exposes him to hearing falsehood and shirk. It is not permissible for him to remain in such a school when he is able to transfer. Rather, he and his guardian must make a serious effort to transfer him to another school that is further removed from these prohibited matters and safer for his religion and Aqeedah. The fitnah found in mixed schools should also be taken into consideration, especially where there is tabarruj and immodest clothing. The Muslim is commanded to lower his gaze and protect his religion.

Conclusion: Standing in honor of the national anthem is not permissible according to the fatwa issued by the Permanent Committee under the chairmanship of Shaykh Ibn Baz رحمه الله. Participating in Christian prayer is even more prohibited. It is not permissible to repeat its words, supplicate along with its participants, make the sign of the cross, or perform anything from its religious rituals. If a person is compelled to remain standing during their prayer and is genuinely unable to leave or avoid the situation, then he must not participate with them in any of their statements, actions, or rituals. Rather, he should remain rejecting it in his heart, not repeat anything from their prayer, and not perform anything specific to their worship. His ruling will be according to the degree of actual compulsion and inability that applies to him. However, the questioner should not be excessive in claiming compulsion so long as he is able to avoid the situation through a permissible means. If he is able to request an exemption, avoid attending these ceremonies, or arrive at school after they have ended, then he must pursue whatever he is able to do from these options. If the school truly requires him to attend Christian prayers and religious rituals and refuses to exempt him, then he should not continue exposing his religion and Aqeedah to this fitnah. Rather, he and his guardian should promptly and seriously look for another school that does not impose these rituals upon him. If no suitable school can be found, then he should seek a permissible alternative such as homeschooling or another available means of education. It is not correct to make the pursuit of worldly education a justification for remaining in an environment that requires him to attend religious rituals that contradict Islam. A Muslim's Aqeedah and Tawhid are his greatest possessions and the most important things he must preserve. No educational qualification or worldly benefit is equal to their safety. Allah the Exalted says: “O you who believe, protect yourselves and your families from a Fire.” [At-Tahrim: 6] Therefore, the questioner should take this matter seriously, strive to strengthen his Iman, learn Tawhid and the correct Aqeedah, and stay away as much as he is able from places of doubts, fitnah, and religious rituals that contradict Islam. Whoever is able to protect his religion by moving to a safer educational environment but leaves this option without a valid need should not afterward claim that he is compelled to attend such rituals, because he is first required to do everything within his ability to remove the cause of the fitnah and protect his religion and Aqeedah. The strongest solution is to formally request an exemption or, if possible without considerable harm, to enter after these ceremonies have ended. If the school continues requiring him to attend Christian rituals or study their doctrine, then he and his guardian should seriously seek another school that presents less harm and better protects his religion and Aqeedah.