The ruling on adding steps to the minbar beyond three.

The questioner : You mentioned in "The Description of the Prophet's Prayer (peace and blessings be upon him)" that adding to the minbar beyond three steps is a religious innovation. We ask for clarification on this.

The Shaykh : The matter does not need clarification; for the minbar of the Messenger (peace be upon him) had only three steps. Adding to what the Messenger (peace be upon him) did in such matters falls under the category of . Furthermore, adding to the three steps falls under another category prohibited by the Shari'ah, which is the squandering of wealth. It is reported in "al-Sahihayn" from the hadith of al-Mughirah ibn Shu'bah (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: . Therefore, constructing a minbar with more than three steps: first, it involves the squandering of wealth; second, it involves elevating oneself in position; and third—which is what we mentioned first—it contradicts his guidance (peace and blessings be upon him). It is reported in an authentic hadith: . In addition, it cuts off the first row, and if the steps are increased, it may also cut off the second row. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) has a verified saying: . Thus, whoever adopts a means that cuts off a row is encompassed by this warning. . Therefore, it is not permissible to add to the minbar beyond three steps; the minbar should be of three steps.
I must take this opportunity to remind you that people—glory be to Allah!—today are at opposite extremes. Some build a long minbar, very long indeed, so that it cuts off more than one row, as we mentioned. Others realized the error of this long minbar but were not satisfied with the humble minbar of the Messenger (peace be upon him) with its three steps. So they devised a way around it by building a balcony and a long staircase inside the wall, so that one ascends... this minbar to that balcony. All of this is a matter of affectation and imitating the construction of churches. It is reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said: , narrated by Ibn 'Abbas from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). Then he said, quoting or stopping at the words of the Messenger (peace be upon him): . The minbars built today involve affectation and unnecessary elaboration for which there is absolutely no justification. Every mosque intended to be built according to the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) should have its qibla wall plastered with a straight line, without a niche; that is, without a mihrab. And it should not have a long minbar, but rather three steps, as we mentioned. The imam stands beside this Sunnah minbar, and that suffices him from all innovations. You all know that all innovations are misguidance, and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) warned against them in the well-known hadith of al-'Arba': , and in the other hadith: .
Yes.