What is the ruling on hanging plates in the mosque near the minbar, upon which are written the majestic name "Allah," the name "Muhammad," and the names "Abu Bakr," "Umar," "Uthman," and "Ali"?

We see no impediment to writing the names of Allah the Almighty, or the name of the Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, or the names of the Companions, in any place where there is no insult or mockery.

However, it is not advisable to write the names of Allah or the Messenger and hang them in the mosque, especially on the qibla wall, nor to write the names of the Companions in the manner mentioned, for two reasons:

1. Anything in front of a worshiper's qibla that might distract him is disliked. Scholars have explicitly stated the dislike of embellishing the qibla or writing on it. 2. Writing the names of Allah, the Messenger, or the Companions in mihrabs was not the practice of the righteous predecessors. It could be a means to a form of shirk (polytheism) or an incorrect belief, with no compelling reason for it.