Everything You Need To Know About Prayer Mats
“The first thing that Allah made obligatory upon my Ummah was the five prayers, and the first thing from their acts of worship that shall be taken up will be the five prayers, and the first thing that they will be questioned about will be the five prayers.”
Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam
(Peace Be Upon Him)
The Hadith mentioned above depicts the importance of Salah in Islam. Islam is a religion of peace and harmony, which has five primary pillars, and Salah is the second and most important one after Shahada (The Declaration of Faith). Every Muslim has the obligation to perform Salah five times a day. The significance of Salah can be understood in such a way that Islam is a body, and Salah is the head of it.
The Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam (Peace Be Upon Him) said, “Between A Muslim and polytheism and unbelief is the abandonment of Salah”.
When a thing plays such a prominent role as Salah does in Islam, then every detail related to it becomes significant. To perform a Salah, a person needs to fulfil thirteen Faraiz (Duties), and among them, one is “The Salah’s performing place has to be pure(Paak)”. This duty can be conveniently fulfilled by using prayer mats.
So, let’s understand the importance of prayer mats in Islam and learn everything you would like to know about prayer mats.
Importance of Prayer Mats in Islam
Prayer mats are an integral part of every Muslim’s life. They come in a variety of forms, from simple cloth sheets to good-quality mats. As we talked about in earlier paragraphs, Salah is the second pillar and a significant part of Islam. It has 14 Faraiz (Duties), and every Muslim needs to fulfil them without any negligence in order to complete their Salah.
Muslims use prayer mats to fulfil a vital Faraiz of Salah that makes it mandatory to perform Salah on a clean and pure (Paak) surface. Yet, it is optional to use prayer mats to perform Salah, and we can also perform without prayer mats in an ideal place like a clean floor.
However, the normalisation of using prayer mats happened primarily because they provide a great convenience in ensuring that the surface is Paak. We often see that the floor looks clean, but it is not Paak. There is a difference between these two terms, and one needs to understand it precisely to select an ideal place to perform Salah.
Primarily, when we are travelling or visiting outside for any work, praying mats ensure we have a suitable place to perform Salah on time.
History Behind The Islamic Prayer Mats
If we talk about carpets, they have a vast history and are much older than Muslim prayer mats. They have been used for multiple purposes for ages, such as sitting, walking, praying, and more.
The usage of prayer mats can be traced back to the start of Christianity or even older than that. However, it was Islamic culture that introduced multiple art forms and popularised using rugs as prayer mats.
Our Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam (Peace Be Upon Him) used to pray Salah and worship Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala on prayer mats.
Things To Remember To Select An Ideal Prayer Mat/Rug
Selecting an ideal prayer mat can surely elevate your praying experience by making it convenient and easier for you to focus on Salah.
In this section, we will talk about things you should consider while selecting a prayer mat;
Material Matters
The fabric/material used in the making of a rug highly affects its quality, durability, and experience.
A prayer mat can be made of a myriad of materials like wool, polyester, and more.
Materials like wool and cotton provide a soft and comfortable texture to mats due to their natural qualities. At the same time, chemically driven materials like polyester have their own unique attributes, like being easy to clean, affordable, and easy to carry.
From a travelling perspective, polyester prayer mats would be best, whilst, for use in the home and office, you can opt for wool and cotton material Islamic prayer mats.
Overall, it is about your convenience and preference.
Portability – A Great Feature
A Muslim has the obligation to perform Salah five times a day. Irrespective of travelling or staying at home or office. So, Muslims would like to take their favourite rug with them to perform Salah conveniently.
You should consider investing in a prayer mat that is lightweight, easy to fold, and comes with a carrying case.
Design, Size, And Color
Thanks to the modernisation of things, prayer mats come in several designs, sizes, and colours. If you visit any excellent offline or online Islamic store, you will find yourself flooded with different kinds of Islamic prayer mats/rugs.
Everyone has a unique personality and should select an Islamic prayer mat that resembles their personality.
Whether traditional or modern, an Islamic prayer mat that suits your preference will motivate you to perform Salah and spend more time on the mat.
What To Do With An Old Prayer Mat?
As we have read about the importance and history of Prayer mats, now it’s time to understand what to do with an old prayer mat that has reached the end of its life.
Well! If I answer it straightforwardly, we can dispose of it in any reasonable manner available at the time being, like giving it for recycling, burying it, and using it to make sitting and walking carpets at home.
In Islam, merely using things for good purposes, like performing Salah and doing Ibadah, doesn’t make them divine. However, you should follow a respectful manner in disposing of these things.
Amsons – A One-Stop Shop For All Types Of Islamic Prayer Mats In The United Kingdom
Founded in 1999, Amsons is a one-stop shop for all your Islamic Lifestyle needs in the United Kingdom.
Amsons has a wide range of Islamic rug collections, from affordable Islamic prayer mats to luxury prayer mats for Muslims in the UK. You will find your desired rug here.
Well known for its quality products and excellent customer support, Amsons is undoubtedly the right brand to trust for Islamic prayer mats in the UK.
Types of Prayer Mats at Amsons Store UK
Memory Foam Padded Prayer Mat
The memory foam padded prayer mats are ideal for comfort-seeking people. They are easy on the knees and make it convenient to do sujood. Generally, Islamic prayer mats are made using cotton, wool, and polyester, while memory foam padded prayer mats mainly use silk material for the outer layer, which is filled with foam to convert it into a padded prayer mat. Because of the usage of premium material in the making, memory foam padded prayer mats are more expensive than normal prayer rugs. However, they add a special element to your living room and make them look gorgeous. Overall, the memory foam padded prayer mat justifies every penny against the comfort and look they offer.
Buy Memory Foam Padded Prayer Mat
Lightweight Prayer Mat
The lightweight prayer mat adds great value and convenience, especially for people who travel frequently or change their prayer location from an office to work or vice versa. Generally made from artificial materials like polyester, they are sustainable, affordable, and easy to carry. A lightweight prayer mat should be in your Islam rug collection due to its excellent qualities. They come in a variety of colours and are easy to clean.
Buy Lightweight Prayer Mat
Kids Prayer Mat
The kids’ prayer mat is an effective way to generate interest in salah in kids. Kids’ prayer mats come in attractive designs and vibrant colours, as kids prefer. At an early age, we learn things faster and remember them longer. It is a perfect time to teach your child Islamic values and introduce Salah to them. Many parents purchase separate prayer rugs for kids, which generates curiosity and a sense of responsibility in kids. You can check the extensive collection of Amsons Store UK to select an ideal Islamic prayer mat for your kid.
Buy Kids Prayer Mat
Velvet Prayer Mat
The velvet prayer mat provides an elegant and luxurious look to the surface. They come in many colours and are available in different price ranges. Generally, velvet prayer mats are pretty expensive. If you choose prayer mats made from full silk, it is a luxury and labour-intensive fabric that boosts its price. However, synthetic velvet is also available and primarily used for mass production, which makes it inexpensive.
Buy Velvet Prayer Mat
Plain Prayer Mat
The plain prayer mat without any design helps focus on Salah. We perform Salah because it is obligatory in Islam. However, while performing Salah, a person can feel distracted by the attractive designs of prayer mats. It is best to go for a prayer mat with zero to minimal design if that happens. Plain prayer rugs are also available in different sizes and colours; one can choose conveniently according to their preference.
Buy Plain Prayer Mat
Print Prayer Mat
The print prayer mats are personalised ones made for special orders. There are two types: one is made on an order basis with a special print on it, and the other is ordinary polyester prayer mats with a print on them. Print prayer mats come in various colours and look attractive due to their designs. Generally, they are lightweight and easy to clean.
Buy Print Prayer Mat
Five People Prayer Mat
The five-people prayer mat is a large prayer rug ideal for performing Salah by five people simultaneously. It is suitable for homes, Mosques, Islamic Seminaries, and other places where multiple people pray together. Instead of purchasing separate prayer mats, one can invest in a five-person prayer mat to organise Salah rows better. They are primarily used in Mosques and Islamic Seminaries.
Buy Five People Prayer Mat
Three People Prayer Mat
The three-people prayer mat is similar to the five-people prayer mat, as explained above, but smaller in size. It is specifically designed for three people to perform Salah at a time. In contrast to the five-people prayer mats, they are more suitable for homes. If you frequently conduct congregational prayer at home or office, then the five-people or three-people prayer mats would be ideal for you.
Buy Three People Prayer Mat
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
What Is An Islamic Prayer Mat Called?
Islam is widespread in different countries and has global followership. People call Islamic prayer mats by several names, such as Musalla, Janamaz, Namazlik, Seccade, and more. They come in a variety of forms, and people’s culture often inspires their local names.
Did The Prophet Pray On A Mat?
Yes, The Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam (Peace Be Upon Him) used to perform Salah on a “Khumra” prayer mat.
What Is Khumra Prayer Mat Made Of?
The Khumra prayer mat is made from palm leaf, which is wide enough to perform Salah conveniently. Nowadays, Khumra prayer mats are made using palm leaves and other materials.
What Is A Prayer Mat Called In Arabic?
Arabic is the primary language of Islam, and Islamic scriptures were originally written in Arabic. The Arabic term for prayer mat is “sajjāda”.
What Is A Prayer Mat Called In Urdu?
The Urdu term for the Islamic prayer mat is Janamaz.
Where To Buy Prayer Mat Online In Birmingham, UK?
Amsons is a UK-owned and operated brand that strives to make your praying experience convenient with its quality Islamic Prayer Mat collection.
Conclusion
Islam means Submission, and Muslim means a person who submits their will/acts to Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala. We talked about Salah and Islamic Prayer Mats and learned the most details about Them. We intend to make this post encyclopaedic about prayer mats/rugs. If you still have any queries left, feel free to ask our team, and remember to check the exclusive collection of Amsons’s Islamic Prayer Mats.