Standing in the archways of the mosque

Question

If the congregation is being held inside the mosque, and the space in the mihrab outside is empty, and there are also worshippers outside on the floor, will there be any defect in the prayer in this case? Also, if one person or two to four people stand in the middle of the mihrab, will there be anything wrong with it?

Answer

In the case asked about, leaving the mihrab empty causes no defect in the prayer, and it is also correct for two to four people to stand forming a row. But one person should not stand alone, because that is makruh.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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