❖ Is It Sharʿan Permissible to Build a Miḥrāb in a Mosque?
Reference: Fatāwā Shaykh al-Ḥadīth Mubārakpūrī, Vol. 1, p. 190
❀ Question
Is constructing a miḥrāb (arched niche for imām in mosque walls) permissible in Islam?
Some people consider it against the Sunnah and even a bidʿah.
❀ Answer
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd!
Evidence from Aḥādīth
- The ḥadīth regarding prohibition of making miḥrāb in mosques is narrated by al-Ṭabarānī, al-Bayhaqī, and Ibn Abī Shaybah.
- This narration is reported through multiple chains, which collectively raise it to the level of ḥasan li-ghayrih.
Types of Narrations
- Some reports generally prohibit making a miḥrāb.
- Others specifically prohibit constructing miḥrābs resembling those of Christians.
Principle of Reconciliation
The unrestricted reports should be understood in the light of the restricted ones.
Hence, the prohibition applies only to those miḥrābs that resemble the Christian churches.
Rationale of Prohibition
The wisdom behind this ruling is to avoid resembling the People of the Book (Jews and Christians).
Application to Present-Day Miḥrābs
- If the miḥrābs in today’s mosques resemble those of Christian churches, then they are undoubtedly makrūh (undesirable) and prohibited.
Precautionary Stance
From the angle of piety (waraʿ) and caution, it is safer to avoid constructing miḥrābs in mosques.
It is possible that the current miḥrābs are similar to those of the Christians during the Prophet’s ﷺ era.
For detailed discussion, see: al-Fatḥ al-Rabbānī min Fatāwā al-ʿAllāmah al-Shawkānī, Vol. 2, p. 202ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
