Mihrab (Prayer Niche)

Mihrab (Arabic: محراب) is the semicircular niche or recess in the mosque wall that indicates the qibla direction (the direction toward the Kaaba in Mecca). The imam stands in or in front of the mihrab when leading congregational prayer, and the mihrab serves as a visual reference point for the prayer direction.

The mihrab has a long history in Islamic architecture. The earliest mosques did not have a mihrab — instead, a simple line or stone marked the qibla direction. The formalized mihrab was introduced during the Umayyad caliphate and quickly became a central architectural element in all mosques. The mihrab is often the most decorated element in the mosque, adorned with calligraphy, geometric patterns, and Quranic verses.

In Shia Islam, the mihrab carries a special symbolic significance, as it is associated with Imam Ali's martyrdom. Imam Ali (peace be upon him) was struck with a poisoned sword by Ibn Muljam while in sujud (prostration) in the mihrab of the Kufa mosque on the 19th of Ramadan 40 Hijri. His last words were: "Fuztu wa Rabbil Ka'bah" (I have succeeded, by the Lord of the Kaaba!). This event gives the mihrab a deep emotional resonance for Shia Muslims.

The Quran mentions the mihrab in connection with the Prophet Zakariyya: "So the angels called upon him while he stood in prayer in the mihrab" (Surah Aal-Imran 3:39). Today, the mihrab is an indispensable part of every mosque, regardless of size or style. Even in the simplest prayer spaces, the qibla direction is marked with a mihrab-like symbol. For the worshipper, the mihrab is a visual reminder of the direction toward Allah's sacred house.