The prayer mat is a cherished staple in the lives of Muslims. Also known as a sajjadat as-salat in Arabic (or namazlik in Turkish and janamaz in Urdu and Persian), prayer mats are often found in Muslim homes and establishments and are a frequent travel companion for believers.
From different designs, textures, colours and quality fabrics, each prayer mat has a unique story to tell in its reflection of Islamic history and art.
The Use of Prayer Mats in Early Islamic History
In Islam, when carrying out our five daily prayers (as well as any other sunnah, voluntary or occasional salah), cleanliness is an essential requirement for the prayer to be accepted. Both our bodies and the place we perform salah must be clean and free from impurities. Hence, having a constant clean surface to pray on, such as a prayer mat, ensures we better uphold this important requirement.
The earliest instance of a prayer mat emerged from the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), as he used to pray on a “khumrah” – a mat made of palm fronds. He did so as it ensured that the place he was praying was clean. For this reason, Muslim travellers from the time of the Prophet (PBUH) and throughout history would carry a prayer mat with them as an essential daily item.
The Evolution of the Prayer Mat
While carpet weaving is an ancient tradition that dates back to Central Asia several thousand years ago, Muslims transformed it into an art form. In fact, the use and design of prayer mats have developed over the centuries as a way of consolidating the identity of Muslims and their tribes in trade relations. This “rug belt”, made up Muslim-majority regions, spanned from Morocco to Central Asia and northern India.
Under the Ottoman, Safavid, and Mughal dynasties, prayer mats exploded in popularity, with trades stretching as far as from Europe to the Far East, and was frequently offered to nobles and public figures as a gift of honour. Weavers from all different tribes competed to make the most beautiful and memorable prayer mats. Some prayer mats were so intricate that they were used as wall decorations rather than mats. Turkish prayer mats, in particular, became a sign of wealth and antique ones continue to hold a great deal of value even today.
Typical Characteristics of Prayer Mats
Since early Islamic history, the rectangular prayer mat has been typically characterised by the design of a prayer niche, or mihrab, the archway in the wall of every Mosque that denotes the direction of the Kaaba in Mecca. The placement of the archway is such that it ensures no one puts their head on the spot the feet is put on and vice versa while praying. The “mirhab” design is also said to almost look like a door to heaven, symbolising the promise of paradise and eternity.
Along with the distinct “mirhab” motif, other architectural features and important Islamic landmarks like the Kaaba and mosques in major Islamic cities such as Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem are also common in prayer mats. Calligraphy patterns and geometric designs, which are characteristic of Islamic art, are also popular choices for prayer mat designs.
Nature-inspired designs, such as the ‘tree of life’, can also appear on some prayer mats. However, there are also some nature motifs prayer mats avoid. As depicting living or animate objects is forbidden in Islam, Islamic prayer mats seldom have such motifs.
The Prayer Mat Today
Prayer mats today come in all kinds of designs, colours and sizes. While they can be mass-produced, traditional and antique prayer mats from Muslim majority countries such as Turkey and Saudi Arabia still hold great significance and value and make great gifts and staples for Muslim households.
There have also been many modern twists added to prayer mats. Travel prayer mats today are much lighter, more portable and waterproof. Cushioned prayer mats make it easier for worshipers' knees when praying and are more comfortable for sitting. There are also prayer mats with non-slip backing to make it safer to pray on tiled floors and prayer mats made for multiple people.
Some prayer mats have a compass on the front to make it easy to find the direction of the qibla, which varies depending on where in the world you are. For example, it would be towards the southeast from the UK, while in Australia it would be northwest.
In today’s technological age, interactive prayer mats can also be used to help new and young Muslims learn how to pray. In the past, the stitching of decorative hands in place of where the hands should be placed on the mat when performing prayer was used to guide reverts on the steps of prayer. Today, innovations such as the My Salah Mat and its use of colorful and carefully curated shapes and sounds aids worshipers, young and old, through the steps of salah.