The Quran

Preface

يا أَيُّهَا الَّذينَ آمَنوا إِذا قيلَ لَكُم تَفَسَّحوا فِي المَجالِسِ فَافسَحوا يَفسَحِ اللَّهُ لَكُم ۖ وَإِذا قيلَ انشُزوا فَانشُزوا يَرفَعِ اللَّهُ الَّذينَ آمَنوا مِنكُم وَالَّذينَ أوتُوا العِلمَ دَرَجاتٍ ۚ وَاللَّهُ بِما تَعمَلونَ خَبيرٌ

Yusuf Ali

O ye who believe! When ye are told to make room in the assemblies,¹ (spread out and) make room: (ample) room will God provide for you. And when ye are told to rise up,² rise up God will rise up, to (suitable) ranks (and degrees), those of you who believe and who have been granted (mystic) Knowledge.³ And God is well- acquainted with all ye do.

Even when a great man or a Leader comes into an Assembly, we are not to press forward without discipline, as it causes inconvenience to him and detriment to public business. Nor are we to shut out other people who have equal rights to be in the Assembly. We must spread out, for God’s earth is spacious, and so are our opportunities.
Rising up is a mark of respect. Just as those who obey soon become worthy of command, so those who honour where honour is due, become themselves worthy of honour, in various degrees according to their capacities. “Rise up” may also here imply: 'when the Assembly is dismissed, do not loiter about'.
Faith makes all people equal in the Kingdom of God, as regards the essentials of citizenship in the Kingdom. But there is leadership, and rank and degree, joined with greater or less responsibility, and that depends on true knowledge and insight. (R).