Answered by Shaykh Abdul-Karim Yahya, SunniPath Academy Teacher
Is it permissible to pray with a mirror in front of us, or even in the same room, or do we have to cover it?
In The Name of Allah, Most Merciful and Compassionate
It is offensive (makruh) to pray on or towards anything that is distracting, such as something striped or a person who is facing one.[1] A mirror is similar. As for praying with a mirror in the room, I have not seen our imams mention this. A reflection is not considered a picture of animate life, so it would not appear to be a problem in our school. And Allah knows best and He alone gives success (tawfiq).
[1] See: Ibn Hajar al-Haytami, Hawashi al-Sharwani Wa Ibn Qasim al-Abbadi ‘Ala Tuhfah al-Muhtaj Bisharh al-Minhaj (Beruit, Dar Ihya’ al-Turath al-‘Arabi), 2:161; and Nihaya with Shibramalisi’s supercommentary: Muhammad Ramli, Nihayah al-Muhtaj ila Sharh al-Minhaj (Beruit, Dar Ihya’ al-Turath al-‘Arabi), 2:58.