- published: 08 Jul 2014
- views: 8589
A prayer rug or prayer mat (in Arabic: سجادة sajjāda pl. سجاجيد sajājīd, or musallah; in Turkish: seccade or namazlık; in Persian: جانماز jānamāz) is a piece of fabric to keep the worshiper clean and comfortable during the sujud (prostration to God) of salat (prayer). A Muslim must perform wudu (ablution) before prayer and pray in a clean place. Many new prayer mats are manufactured or made by weavers in a factory. The design of a prayer mat is based on the village it came from and its weaver. When praying, a niche at the top of the mat must be pointed to the Islamic center for prayer, Mecca. All Muslims are required to know what direction Mecca is from their home or where they are.
The prayer rug has a very strong symbolic meaning and traditionally taken care of in a holy manner. It is disrespectful for one to place a prayer mat in a dirty location or throw it around in a disrespectful manner. The prayer mat is traditionally woven with a rectanglular design, made asymmetrical by the niche at the head end. Within the rectangle one usually finds images of Islamic symbols and architecture. Decorations not only are important but also have a deep sense of value in the design of the prayer rug.