The Ruling on the Mihrab and Broadcasting the Iqamah and Recitation with a Loudspeaker

Question:
And I said: The Shaykh (may Allah have mercy on him), this is circulating among the brothers these days. If the brothers are praying outside the mosque, and the loudspeaker is being used, you say that it is from the innovations (bid'ah). What do you say about that? Also, regarding the brothers, which of these are innovations?

Answer:
As for the mihrab, it is not from the innovations, and praise be to Allah. By it, the qiblah is known. Mihrabs have been known among Muslims for a long time, and they did not consider them to be from the innovations. Rather, they are among the markers of the qiblah. The qiblah is not known except by the mihrabs. If there were no mihrab in the mosque, you would make a mistake and not know where to face in prayer. So it is an apparent benefit, and there is no innovation in it, praise be to Allah. As for broadcasting the iqamah and the recitation outside the mosque, it is not from the innovations, but it is not befitting because it disturbs people in their mosques and in their homes. So it is a nuisance to people and a source of disturbance. As for it being an innovation, it is not an innovation.