What is the ruling on praying in the mosque, with an electric heater in front of the worshippers in cold regions?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
Most scholars dislike praying towards fire, out of resemblance to fire worshippers. This was disliked by Ibn Sirin, Sufyan, and Ahmad, who explained their dislike as resembling fire worshippers. As for electric heaters, they do not take the ruling of fire, and praying towards them is not disliked, due to the absence of resemblance to fire with flames, and due to the need for them in winter. If placed behind the worshippers, their benefit would be lost. And their presence in front of the congregants lessens the issue, for the legal principle is that what is disliked becomes permissible due to need.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/10354
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 10354
- Added here
- . This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
- Text
- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
- Read the full ruling
- Read the full answer on Ftawy