What is the ruling on building a mihrab in the qibla of the mosque?

The mihrab did not exist during the time of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, nor in the first century. Rather, it appeared in the second century, and Muslims successively built it due to the benefit it provides, such as indicating the qiblah and clarifying that a place is a mosque. Some scholars have considered the adoption of mihrabs an innovation, citing the hadith (Beware of these slaughterhouses), meaning mihrabs. However, this interpretation is refuted by explaining that the mihrabs intended in the hadith refer to the prominent positions in gatherings, not the mihrabs commonly known in mosques. As for the hadith mentioning the adoption of "slaughterhouses" similar to those of Christians, it refers to the prohibition of adopting mihrabs that resemble theirs. Sheikh Ibn Uthaymeen holds the view that adopting mihrabs is permissible, and may even be recommended due to the benefits they offer, such as indicating the qiblah. The prohibition against them is lifted if they differ from the mihrabs of Christians.