What is the ruling on fixing the door of the Minbar (pulpit) at its left side instead of the right side? There is a new mosque which has been recently initiated. And because of a limited space, it is hard to make the door of the Minbar at its proper place (at the right side), so we kindly ask your esteemed committee of the Verdict Site which refers to the Faculty of Shari’a in An-Najah National University to give us a clear-cut answer.

Answer

Praise Be to Allah and Peace Be Upon His Messenger.

It is an act of Sunna to stand on the Minbar to preach on Friday Prayers and on the Eid Prayers. This act refers to the days of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). It was narrated that “the prophet used to deliver the sermon while leaning on a tree trunk. When he started to stand on the pulpit, the trunk made a sorrowful sound, so the prophet went to it and rubbed his hand over it.” Related by Bukhari

It was also narrated that the Messenger of Allah sent a message to a woman asking her to order her slave who was a carpenter to make pieces of wood, i.e. a pulpit, so that he can sit on it while preaching people.” Agreed Upon

However, having a pulpit in the mosque is not one of the crucial conditions of the validity of prayer. If the Imam delivers his speech while standing on the floor, the prayer (Friday or Eid Prayer) is valid.

It is also an act of Sunna to have the Minbar at the right side of the Mihrab (the exact place where the Imam stands during performing the congregational prayer). In other words, it is desired to have the Minbar at the right side of the Imam once he is facing the Qiblah. This is reported by Imam An-Nawawi as he depended on the act of the prophet, his companions, and followers. Thus, it has become a custom.

Imam ‘Imrani says: “it is preferred to have the Minbar at the right side of the Mihrab. It is at the right side of the Imam once he is standing to pray and facing the Qiblah, and this is what the prophet did.”

According to all these evidences, we recommend that it is necessary to have the Minbar at its proper site, and we ask those who are in charge to apply this act of Sunna (as long as it is possible). However, if it is hard to do this because of structural issues, there is no blame upon you.

Referring to the issue mentioned in your question, there is no religious evidence which prevents fixing the door at the left side of the Minbar or stresses fixing it at the right side. Those who are responsible for doing that are authorized to choose the appropriate place of the door depending on the available space.