Question
Why can’t the Imam stand in mihrab when leading prayer?
Answer:
ﺑﺴﻢ اﷲ اﻟﺮﺣﻤﻦ اﻟﺮﺣﯿﻢ
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
The scholars mention that it is disliked for the Imam to stand alone in the Mihrab due to the following two reasons:
1) It resembles the action of the People of the Book (Ahlul Kitab), i.e. their Imam would be distinguished from the people by being in a separate place.
2) The position of the Imam may become obscured for those to his right and left.
Nevertheless, if the Imam were to stand outside of the Mihrab and make sujood in the Mihrab, then it would not be disliked. Likewise, if the Imam stood in the Mihrab due to lack of space, it would not be disliked. For more details, kindly refer to the following link:
http://daruliftabirmingham.co.uk/where-shall-the-imam-stand-mihrab-or-first-saff/
Raddul Muhtar: v. 2, p. 414 (Maktaba Imdadia); Fatawa Hindiya: v. 1, p. 120 (DKI); Hashiya At-Tahtawi: p. 361 (Qadeemi Kutub Khana); Sharhul Wiqayah/Umdatur Riayah: v. 2, p. 199 (Qadeemi Kutub Khana)
Only Allah knows best
Written by Maulana Mohammad Ahsan Osmani
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham