Prayer is an obligatory component of Islam. Prayer is a compulsory obligation to be performed by an adult Muslim five times a day.
Its essential elements are the cleanliness of body and the place of praying as well. In order to clean their bodies, Muslims perform ablution. Muslims are required to know the khana Kaba (qibla) direction towards Mecca, Saudi Arabia from their house even if they are outside the house during the journey or traveling.In order to perform prayer, it is necessary to pray on the neat and clean surface. For this purpose, Muslims use prayer rugs.
Prayer rugs can also be called:Muslim prayer mats,Salat prayer rugs,Sajada salat janamaz, Turkish prayer rugs,Prayer rug carpet,Carpet Islamic Muslim SallahA prayer rug is basically a piece of fabric or cloth or whatever material based on the manufacturing process. A prayer rug is a tradition for hundreds of years ago. The basic purpose is to perform prayer on the neat and clean surface on the prayer rug.
Normally, Muslims prefer an image of qibla and some various random decent designs. The place where Muslims all over the world prostrate on a prayer rug or mat is known as sajdah (SALAT?). A prayer rug is found in every Muslim house and is more often than not a constant travel companion that travels with the Muslims.Prayer rugs come in different designs, texture, and colors and the earliest ones were made of stuff from palm fronds and reeds to the purest threads and fabrics. Their weaving reflects the mystery of different Islamic phases. A single prayer rug can tell many stories.Its usage begins with the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) who prayed on a “khumrah”; a mat made of palm fronds. Prayers must be performed on a clean surface; for that purpose, prayer rugs are needed.
During early ages of Islamic history, the most common, basic and famous design was a door which looks like the door to heaven. These days there have been many creative designs, and improvisations added over the decades by different designers artisans and weavers.Before hundreds of years ago, prayer rugs were produced from the date palm fronds but with the passage of time they are getting better and comfortable and decorated as well nowadays different designs are available and are in trend.Historically, prayer rug’s importance is particularly very high because when Islam originated before 1400 years ago it was very difficult to find a neat and clean place to worship that’s why the trend of prayer rugs came into existence (due to the need of prayer rugs? I think this part here it’s extra) This concept to make prayer rug was initially very simple.
In the very beginning, simple cotton based prayer rugs were utilized. In the start, it was simply an intrinsic requirement but now the same exact idea is converting into luxury prayer rugs. A prayer rug has characterized a niche at one end and indicates the mihrab in every mosque which helps know the point of direction where the worshiper is supposed to pray towards which is pointed towards khana Kaaba situated in Mecca Saudi Arabia which is why prayer rugs are mostly designed or based on mosque lamps khana Kaaba(qibla) and Masjid e nabvi pictures and some other such designs.These decorations not only play an imagers role but also help the worshipers aid to memory. Another purpose of decorated rugs is to attract the newly converted Muslims. This way newly converted Muslims can imagine easily that where is the center of worship and they can easily get inspired by the mihrabs and the prayer rugs designing.
Traditionally, prayer rugs are made in small towns and villages. But now with the passage of time prayer rugs are manufacturing in industrial areas too. Many times prayer rugs are gifted too and when Muslims go to perform hajj which is also a basic element of Islam on return from hajj the Muslims buy prayer rugs as a gift for their loved ones from Mecca Saudi Arabia.Today, it is easy and affordable to buy a prayer rug.
The mass production ones come in different colors, and sizes from purple yellow, green and red to a mixture combination of basic mihrab designs. The more effort put and more designed a prayer rug the more expensive it can be.In old prayers rugs, the prayer rugs could tell you their origin, which tribe or town they were woven by, what message they tried to express etc.In the late 15th to the early 16th centuries, the prayer rug was called bellini carpet, made in Anatolia were used and were famous. This rug symbolically describes the environment of the mosque with the entrance and mihrab with some hanging corner lamps.In early 16th-century busra prayers, a new design was introduced in rug similar to entrance on the palace.
It was the new trend because previous prayer rugs had a lot of hanging lights design. But this prayer rug contained only one hanging light which made it more decent and elegant.In the late 19th century Kazak prayer rug introduced new trends. This prayer mat contained different compatible designs which endorsed everyone so that this prayer rug was amazingly different and elegant.After the early 20th-century prayer rugs enhanced and became more comfortable and portable because of their lightweight. Today prayer rug is an industry and there’s a lot of competition in the market so that’s why prayer mats are available at affordable prices.
A prayer rug is a simple yet significant piece of fabric, the prayer mat started to intrigue influential Muslims leaders early on.Under the Mughal dynasties, the prayer rug industry flourished and prayer rugs came to be considered as national treasures and assets as well.Prayer rugs best samples are available in Fatima Bint Muhammad Bin Zayed initiative center in Jumeirah Dubai. All samples are made from the sheep’s Kurk wool.You can search and find other designs available in silk, cotton or wool in special souqs or in different online stores.The traditional ones are made by different regions, tribes, and peoples. The importance of the prayer rug is beautifully described in the words of the renowned and famous “poet of love” Nizar Qabbani (1923-1998), who said in his “Damascus, What Are You Doing to Me “And from my mother’s prayer rug/that first taught me/The path to God.
