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?
Answer:
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.
