Question:<\/p>\n
Is the Mihrab part of the Masjid? If not, what are the laws pertaining to the performance of Salaah and Itikaaf<\/span><\/p>\n Answer:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n As-sal\u0101mu \u2018alaykum wa-rahmatull\u0101hi wa-barak\u0101tuh.<\/strong>\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The mihrab is the arched shaped projected area of the masjid towards the Qibla, in which the Imam stands for the congregational Salah.<\/span><\/p>\n There was not a mihrab in Masjid An-Nabawi at the time of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon Him) nor at the time of the four Caliphs (May Allah be pleased with them).The mihrab was introduced at the beginning of the second century and was then adopted by those who came afterwards until the present day.[1]<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n It acts in the interest and benefit of the Muslims in general in that it indicates the direction of the Qibla and also it is a means of maximizing the space in the masjid, without the mihrab the the Imam will occupy the space of an entire row.<\/span><\/p>\n Hence the reason the scholars have agreed upon its permissibility. There are some traditions of The Holy Prophet peace be upon him on the prohibition of the mihrabs.[2]<\/a> This prohibition either refers to a person sitting on an elevated platform (which is also called a mihrab) being the center of attracting, demonstrating pride and haughtiness [3]<\/a> or is referred to the mihrabs of the Christians.[4]<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n As for the mihrabs present today in our masajid, it is permissible and do not fall under that prohibition since it does not resemble the mihrabs of the Christians which is called an Altar. An Altar an elevated structure, or platform in the church, in which the priest perform religious rites.<\/span><\/p>\n Therefore the mihrab of the masjid is considered part of the masjid and thus it is permissible for the imam to stand there and lead the congregational salah [5]<\/a> and it would be permissible for one performing the itikaf to enter the mihrab without his itikaf being violated.[6]<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Taking into consideration that the mihrab is designated for the Imam it would not be advisable for one to perform salah there before the congregation.<\/span><\/p>\n If however one enters the masjid besides the time for congregational salah and decides to offer salah it is permissible to pray in the mihrab. It is however a wrong concept to think that salah performed in the mihrab is more virtuous.<\/span><\/p>\n Some scholars however regard the Salah of the Imam standing directly in the mihrab area to be Makrooh because of two elements;[7]<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Firstly, it conceals the movements of the Imam to those on the right and left of him.<\/span><\/p>\n Secondly, it has a resemblance to the Christians in that the priest stands in a distinguished place apart from the followers.<\/span><\/p>\n Consequently, this may not be the ruling for our present day Mihrabs, as it is not that enclosed to the extent that it conceals the action of the imam. Also in Islam it compulsory that the Imam stands ahead of his followers, however not on a an elevated platform as the priest does, which is disliked in the Shariah as mentioned above.[8]<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n NB<\/strong>-The Mihrab is part of the masjid unless the guardians of the masjid explicitly declares that they have not included it in the parameters of the masjid. This would however not affect the validity the congregational Salah. However in this case the Imam should not stand directly in the Mihrab since it is then a place other than the masjid. He should rather stand in the masjid area and there is no harm if his place of sajda is in the Mihrab.<\/span><\/p>\n Such a masjid in which the mihrab is not included within its boundaries will nullify<\/strong> the I\u2019tikaf if the Mu\u2019takif enters it.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n And Allah Knows Best<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Mufti Kaleem Muhammad<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n [1]<\/strong><\/strong><\/a> \u0627\u0639\u0644\u0627\u0645 \u0627\u0644\u0627\u0631\u064a\u0628 \u0644\u0644\u0627\u0645\u0627\u0645 \u0627\u0644\u0633\u064a\u0648\u0637\u064a \u0635 14 \u0645\u0643\u062a\u0628\u0629 \u062f\u0627\u0631 \u0627\u0644\u0635\u062d\u0627\u0628\u0629 \u0644\u0644\u062a\u0631\u0627\u062b \u0628\u062a\u062d\u0642\u064a\u0642 \u0627\u0644\u0634\u064a\u062e \u0637\u0647 \u0641\u0631\u0629<\/span><\/p>\n \u0648 \u064e\u0644\u064e\u0645\u0652 \u064a\u064e\u0643\u064f\u0646\u0652 \u0644\u0650\u0645\u064e\u0633\u0652\u062c\u0650\u062f\u0650\u0647\u0650 \u0645\u0650\u062d\u0652\u0631\u064e\u0627\u0628 \u0641\u062a\u062d \u0627\u0644\u0628\u0627\u0631\u064a \u062c: 1 \u0635: 575 \u062d\u062f\u064a\u062b:497<\/span><\/p>\n \u0627\u0639\u0644\u0627\u0645 \u0627\u0644\u0633\u0627\u062c\u062f \u0628\u0627\u062d\u0643\u0627\u0645 \u0627\u0644\u0645\u0633\u0627\u062c\u062f \u0644\u0644\u0627\u0645\u0627\u0645 \u0627\u0644\u0632\u0631\u0643\u0634\u064a \u0628\u062a\u062d\u0642\u064a\u0642 \u0627\u0644\u0634\u064a\u062e \u0645\u0635\u0637\u0641\u0649 \u0627\u0644\u0645\u0631\u0627\u063a\u064a \u0635 364<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n [2]<\/strong><\/strong><\/a> \u0631\u0648\u0649 \u0627\u0644\u0637\u0628\u0631\u0627\u0646\u064a \u0648\u0627\u0644\u0628\u064a\u0647\u0642\u064a \u0641\u064a \u0633\u0646\u0646\u0647 \u0639\u0646 \u0639\u0628\u062f \u0627\u0644\u0644\u0647 \u0628\u0646 \u0639\u0645\u0631\u0648 \u0631\u0636\u064a \u0627\u0644\u0644\u0647 \u0639\u0646\u0647\u0645\u0627 \u0623\u0646 \u0631\u0633\u0648\u0644 \u0627\u0644\u0644\u0647 \u0635\u0644\u0649 \u0627\u0644\u0644\u0647 \u0639\u0644\u064a\u0647 \u0648\u0633\u0644\u0645 \u0642\u0627\u0644 : ( \u0627\u062a\u0642\u0648\u0627 \u0647\u0630\u0647 \u0627\u0644\u0645\u0630\u0627\u0628\u062d ) \u062c\u0645\u0639 \u0645\u0630\u0628\u062d \u0628\u0627\u0644\u0630\u0627\u0644 \u0627\u0644\u0645\u0639\u062c\u0645\u0629 \u0648\u0627\u0644\u062d\u0627\u0621 \u0627\u0644\u0645\u0647\u0645\u0644\u0629\u060c \u0648\u0641\u0633\u0651\u064e\u0631\u0647 \u0628\u0642\u0648\u0644\u0647 (\u064a\u0639\u0646\u064a \u0627\u0644\u0645\u062d\u0627\u0631\u064a\u0628) \u0648\u0647\u0648 \u0645\u062f\u0631\u062c \u0648\u0647\u064a \u062c\u0645\u0639 \u0645\u062d\u0631\u0627\u0628\u060c \u0648\u0647\u0648 \u0627\u0644\u0645\u0648\u0636\u0639 \u0627\u0644\u0639\u0627\u0644\u064a \u0627\u0644\u0645\u0634\u0631\u0641 \u0648\u0647\u0648 \u0635\u062f\u0631 \u0627\u0644\u0645\u062c\u0644\u0633 \u0623\u064a\u0636\u064b\u0627<\/span><\/p>\n \u0627\u0644\u062a\u0646\u0648\u064a\u0631 \u0634\u0631\u062d \u0627\u0644\u062c\u0627\u0645\u0639 \u0627\u0644\u0635\u063a\u064a\u0631 (1\/ 350)<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n [3]<\/strong><\/strong><\/a> \u0641\u0625\u0646 \u0627\u0644\u0625\u0645\u0627\u0645 \u0627\u0644\u0634\u0647\u064a\u0631 \u0627\u0644\u0645\u0639\u0631\u0648\u0641 \u0623\u064a \u0628\u0627\u0628\u0646 \u0627\u0644\u0623\u062b\u064a\u0631 \u0642\u062f \u0646\u0635 \u0639\u0644\u0649 \u0623\u0646 \u0627\u0644\u0645\u0631\u0627\u062f \u0628\u0627\u0644\u0645\u062d\u0627\u0631\u064a\u0628 \u0641\u064a \u0627\u0644\u062d\u062f\u064a\u062b \u0635\u062f\u0648\u0631 \u0627\u0644\u0645\u062c\u0627\u0644\u0633 \u0642\u0627\u0644 \u0648\u0645\u0646\u0647 \u062d\u062f\u064a\u062b \u0623\u0646\u0633 \u0643\u0627\u0646 \u064a\u0643\u0631\u0647 \u0627\u0644\u0645\u062d\u0627\u0631\u064a\u0628 \u0623\u064a \u0644\u0645 \u064a\u0643\u0646 \u064a\u062d\u0628 \u0623\u0646 \u064a\u062c\u0644\u0633 \u0641\u064a \u0635\u062f\u0648\u0631 \u0627\u0644\u0645\u062c\u0627\u0644\u0633 \u0648\u064a\u0631\u062a\u0641\u0639 \u0639\u0644\u0649 \u0627\u0644\u0646\u0627\u0633 \u0627\u0646\u062a\u0647\u0649<\/span><\/p>\n \u0641\u064a\u0636 \u0627\u0644\u0642\u062f\u064a\u0631 (1\/ 144)<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n [4]<\/a> \u0623\u062e\u0631\u062c \u0627\u0628\u0646 \u0623\u0628\u064a \u0634\u064a\u0628\u0629 \u0641\u064a \u0627\u0644\u0645\u0635\u0646\u0641 \u0639\u0646 \u0645\u0648\u0633\u0649 \u0627\u0644\u062c\u0647\u0646\u064a \u0642\u0627\u0644 : \u0642\u0627\u0644 \u0631\u0633\u0648\u0644 \u0627\u0644\u0644\u0647 \u0635\u0644\u0649 \u0627\u0644\u0644\u0647 \u0639\u0644\u064a\u0647 \u0648\u0633\u0644\u0645 : ( \u0644\u0627 \u062a\u0632\u0627\u0644 \u0623\u0645\u062a\u064a \u0628\u062e\u064a\u0631 \u0645\u0627 \u0644\u0645 \u064a\u062a\u062e\u0630\u0648\u0627 \u0641\u064a \u0645\u0633\u0627\u062c\u062f\u0647\u0645 \u0645\u0630\u0627\u0628\u062d \u0643\u0645\u0630\u0627\u0628\u062d \u0627\u0644\u0646\u0635\u0627\u0631\u0649 (\u0631\u0642\u0645 \u0627\u0644\u062d\u062f\u064a\u062b 4579)<\/span><\/p>\n [5]<\/a> \u0648\u0644\u0648 \u0627\u0642\u062a\u062f\u0649 \u0628\u0627\u0644\u0625\u0645\u0627\u0645 \u0641\u064a \u0623\u0642\u0635\u0649 \u0627\u0644\u0645\u0633\u062c\u062f \u0648\u0627\u0644\u0625\u0645\u0627\u0645 \u0641\u064a \u0627\u0644\u0645\u062d\u0631\u0627\u0628 \u062c\u0627\u0632\u061b \u0644\u0623\u0646 \u0627\u0644\u0645\u0633\u062c\u062f \u0639\u0644\u0649 \u062a\u0628\u0627\u0639\u062f \u0623\u0637\u0631\u0627\u0641\u0647 \u062c\u0639\u0644 \u0641\u064a \u0627\u0644\u062d\u0643\u0645 \u0643\u0645\u0643\u0627\u0646 \u0648\u0627\u062d\u062f<\/span><\/p>\n \u0628\u062f\u0627\u0626\u0639 \u0627\u0644\u0635\u0646\u0627\u0626\u0639 \u0641\u064a \u062a\u0631\u062a\u064a\u0628 \u0627\u0644\u0634\u0631\u0627\u0626\u0639 (1\/ 145)<\/span><\/p>\n \u0642\u064e\u0627\u0644\u064e \u0641\u0650\u064a \u0627\u0644\u0652\u0647\u0650\u062f\u064e\u0627\u064a\u064e\u0629\u0650 \u0648\u064e\u0644\u064e\u0627 \u0628\u064e\u0623\u0652\u0633\u064e \u0628\u0650\u0623\u064e\u0646\u0652 \u064a\u064e\u0643\u064f\u0648\u0646\u064e \u0645\u064e\u0642\u064e\u0627\u0645\u064f \u0627\u0644\u0652\u0625\u0650\u0645\u064e\u0627\u0645\u0650 \u0641\u0650\u064a \u0627\u0644\u0652\u0645\u064e\u0633\u0652\u062c\u0650\u062f\u0650 \u0648\u064e\u0633\u064f\u062c\u064f\u0648\u062f\u064f\u0647\u064f \u0641\u0650\u064a \u0627\u0644\u0637\u0651\u064e\u0627\u0642\u064e \u0648\u064e\u064a\u064f\u0643\u0652\u0631\u064e\u0647\u064f \u0623\u064e\u0646\u0652 \u064a\u064e\u0643\u064f\u0648\u0646\u064e \u0641\u0650\u064a \u0627\u0644\u0637\u0651\u064e\u0627\u0642\u0650 \u0642\u064e\u0627\u0644\u064e \u062a\u064e\u0627\u062c\u064f \u0627\u0644\u0634\u0651\u064e\u0631\u0650\u064a\u0639\u064e\u0629\u0650<\/span><\/p>\n \u0648\u064e\u0647\u064e\u0630\u064e\u0627 \u0639\u064e\u0644\u064e\u0649 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