What is the ruling on placing a special carpet for the imam in the mosque?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The Shaykh : Yes, Professor. Please go ahead.
The questioner : In the mosques. We are waiting.
The Shaykh : What is it?
The questioner : He says: A mat, a mat for the imam. The mosque is carpeted, and the imam places a mat.
The Shaykh : A mat specifically for him. This is not recommended and is not permissible, except if the man is an old man like me and he fears for himself that he will be affected by the coldness of the floor, then a mat may be placed for him for this purpose, and there is no harm in that. But to distinguish him from the other worshippers, that is a bid'ah (religious innovation).
The questioner : Our son. The people are carpeted.
The Shaykh : I understand, may Allah guide you. You still need to understand.
The questioner : Okay, may Allah reward you.
The questioner : In the mosques. We are waiting.
The Shaykh : What is it?
The questioner : He says: A mat, a mat for the imam. The mosque is carpeted, and the imam places a mat.
The Shaykh : A mat specifically for him. This is not recommended and is not permissible, except if the man is an old man like me and he fears for himself that he will be affected by the coldness of the floor, then a mat may be placed for him for this purpose, and there is no harm in that. But to distinguish him from the other worshippers, that is a bid'ah (religious innovation).
The questioner : Our son. The people are carpeted.
The Shaykh : I understand, may Allah guide you. You still need to understand.
The questioner : Okay, may Allah reward you.
Source
سلسلة الهدى والنور، المجلس 1138 — d3watuna.com (27:24)
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.