The imam standing in the mihrab

Question

It is makruh for the imam to stand in the mihrab. However, people say that in the hot season the courtyard of the mosque has room for only one row, and the worshippers are extremely cramped. If, out of necessity, the imam stands in the mihrab, is there leeway for this or not?

Answer

In a state of crowding and need there is nothing wrong with standing in the mihrab. So it is in “al-Bahr” (vol. 2, p. 26).

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

Preview. The full text opens with JavaScript enabled.