Praying in the niche

Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) disliked praying in the niche (taq, i.e. the mihrab). (For research on this topic, see Imam al-Suyuti's treatise "I'lam al-Arib bi-Huduth Bid'at al-Maharib".)

Musa bin Qays said: I saw Ibrahim keeping away from the niche (taq, i.e. the mihrab).

Ka'b disliked that altars (madhabih, i.e. prayer niches) be made in the mosques.

Salim bin Abi al-Ja'd said: Do not make altars (madhabih, i.e. prayer niches) in the mosques.

Ibrahim disliked praying in the niche (taq, i.e. the mihrab).

Al-Hasan disliked praying in the niche (taq, i.e. the mihrab).

Ubayd bin Abi al-Ja'd said: The Companions of Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) used to say: Among the signs of the Hour is that altars (madhabih) will be made in the mosques - meaning the niches.

It is narrated from Musa al-Juhani that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "This Ummah" - or he said: "My Ummah" - "will remain upon good as long as they do not make in their mosques altars like the altars of the Christians."

Ibrahim said: Sayyiduna Abdullah (bin Mas'ud) (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Beware of these mihrabs. And Ibrahim would not stand in them.

Sayyiduna Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Among the signs of the Hour is that altars (madhabih, i.e. prayer niches) will be made in the mosques.

Isma'il bin Abd al-Malik said: Abu Khalid al-Walibi would not stand in the niche (taq, i.e. the mihrab); rather, he would stand in front of it.

Musa bin Ubaydah said: I saw the mosque of Sayyiduna Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him), and there was no niche (taq, i.e. mihrab) in it.