If the imam stands to the right or to the left of the mihrab, does this contradict the hadith (Center the imam)?

The questioner : It is stated in the book "Fiqh al-Sunnah" that this is a hadith from the Prophet (peace be upon him): .

The Shaykh : It is not "wasatoo" .

The questioner : .

The Shaykh Yes.

The questioner : So here, when he wants to stand to the right or to the left of the mihrab, is it permissible? Does it make a difference, meaning does it not contradict this?

The Shaykh : Of course, it does contradict it. But the answer has two aspects. The first aspect is that you did not allow the imam to stand in the center when you built the mihrab, and we said earlier that the mihrab is not part of the Sunnah.

The questioner : It is not from the Sunnah.

The Shaykh : Ah, so the one who built the mihrab did not allow the imam to stand in the center; he forced him to go to the right, as we have seen, or to the left, as we will see, if Allah wills, later. This is the first answer, and it is the most important. But I should not fail to mention, for the reminder benefits the believers, that this hadith is not permissible to attribute to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), because its chain of narration is weak and it is not authentic.