When we are in a mosque that has two floors, is it permissible to place the pulpit and Mihraab (i.e. prayer niche) on the second floor, which is the greater one, knowing that people pray on the ground floor on Fridays because the second one does not suffice them? In other words, is it permissible for the Imaam to be in a higher place than the worshippers?

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

There is absolutely no doubt that the most appropriate setting is that the Imaam and worshippers be on the same level because one of the objectives of this gathering is that all should be in a single place. Although the majority of scholars have stated that it is disliked that the Imaam be in a higher place than the worshippers, they stated that the opposite situation (i.e. the worshippers be in a higher place than the Imaam) is not disliked. The reason behind this is that being the Imaam entails a distinguishing position and thus, if the Imaam is in a place that is higher than the worshippers, then this may imply arrogance.

The Shaafi‘i scholars did not differentiate between the two cases saying: “It is disliked for the worshippers to be in a higher place than the Imaam (in a place) where they can stand behind him on the same level.” The same ruling applies to the opposite situation except in the case of necessity concerning prayers such as conveying the prayer and teaching the worshippers the characteristics upon which the prayer is based. In these cases, it is recommended to be in a higher place for the interest of prayer takes precedence."

The reason that the questioner mentioned (i.e. that the ground floor is not wide enough to include all the people) is a sufficient excuse for them to be on different levels. In spite of this and, in order to avoid the well-based difference in opinion regarding this issue, the Imaam should be on the ground floor and whoever does not find a place on this floor can pray in the higher one. The Imaam should not be on the higher floor, even if the number of people there are greater than those who pray on the ground floor.