In central and western Asia, the prayer rug is one of the main types of rug produced. Muslims use prayer rugs to cover the bare floor while they pray. They are characterize by the prayer niche, an arch-shaped design at the one end of the carpet. But to offer the prayer, praying on a mat is not a requirement. If the place is clean and free from impurities, we can pray on the floor without any mat. If our partner or a friend is a traveler, we can gift them high-quality prayer mats so that they can offer their prayer at any place. The main purpose is to maintain a clean space to pray, and it is a must to remove shoes when using the rug—Islam emphasizes cleanliness both physically and spiritually. Every Muslim should have a pure mind and heart.
Prayer mats History and Features
Prayer is the essential pillar of our religion. Pillars and principles of faith are central to individual identity as a Muslim. To pray five times a day and in a proper way, prayer rugs used around the World. For the occasion of prayer, rugs provide an important ritual context for the user, distinct postures, movement, and framing and enabling, etc. The basic aim of the rug is to create a private space for Muslims to communicate with God silently. Mats are fills with beautiful patterns and imagery.
1.1 History:
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) started this practice by using’ Khumrah’ for prayer. Khumrah is a mat made of palm fronds. Tan, after the next few centuries’ travelers reportedly caring for carpets for prayer. As a gift and symbol of power, the prayer carpet started to used—this practice of using mats grown under the ottoman, Mughal, and Safavid dynasties. Rugs are uses as items of ordination. Thus, rugs became associated with religion. Different names in World know prayer rugs. In the Arab World, it is known as Sajjadar as salat, and in Persian or Urdu, known as Janamaz. If you are praying on a clean floor and wearing clean clothes, you can pray without a prayer rug, but the condition is that the floor must be clean of any impurities.
1.2 Design:
It is very hard to tell the difference between an oriental rug and a prayer rug. This can be because of solid colours, floral patterns. Most of the variety of rugs have an Islamic landmark implanted on them. That range will be from Kaaba in mecca, Al-Masjid e Nabawai in Medina. The rug production area does affect the texture. All prayer rugs have a niche on top of the Mihrab. It is the feature of the mosque that representing the direction for praying performance. The niche is always in an order where a Muslim places their head during prayer time. The quality of prayer mats also matters. If we want to gift someone an Islamic gift, we can buy high-quality prayer mat for them.
Only some rugs have Mihrab, while others are abstract in their demeanor. All these types of rugs have some decoration, may have illuminated lamps and pitchers. These decorations are not only paying a part in imagery but also serve the reigniting Islamic thought purpose. Each aspect of the prayer rug serves a purpose. But that’s not completely true. Some rugs have colour imprinted on them. The features of the prayer mat are all about craftsmanship. The sizes of prayer mats are different for different ages, like praying mat for kids sizes will be less than the adult ones.
2. Importance of Cleanliness in Islam
The essential part of an Islamic life is cleanliness. In the Holy book, Quran Allah says that:
“Allah does not intend to inconvenience you, but He intends to purify you and perfect His favor to you so that you may give thanks”. (Quran, 5:6)
Cleanliness has two different types:
2. 1 Inner Purification
By encouraging the pillars of Islam, we can achieve inner purification. If you have a clean heart with pure thinking, avoiding sins. It is important to make sure the heart is purifies of spiritual affliction such as arrogance, pride, hatred, anger, etc.
2.2 Outer Purification
It can obtained by complete purification of the body. For example, taking a bath, cleaning teeth, keeping house and cloths clean etc. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said that:
“The key to the prayer is cleanliness, its beginning is Takbir (saying Allahu Akbar), and its ending is Salam (salutation).” (Abu Dawud).
Islam encouraged us to keep ourselves clean physically and spiritually. The essential aspect of prayer is the person should be neat and clean before performing prayers five times a day. Following are the instructions that we should follow to keep us clean and healthy:
· Before and after every meal, we should wash our hands and mouth.
· Keep your food and water covered.
· Always offer prayer with a clean body and clothes.
· Always use perfume
· Use oil on the hair and always comb your hair.
· For offering prayers, take a bath and perform ablution.
· Go to bed early and rise early, go for a walk in the morning.
· To keep the environment clean, keep your house and streets clean.
· It keeps your body clean and clothes clean.
3. Islamic gifts
We should gift each other Islamic gifts such as pretty prayer mats, Islamic jewelry, personalised gifts islamic, hajj and Umrah kits, beard oil, hijabs and abaya set, azan watch, Quran wooden stand with Quran bookmarks, Digital tasbeeh Qibla compass, and Quran etc.
Conclusion
Islam emphasizes the importance of cleanliness by making it a part of our faith. Therefore we must make conscious efforts to educate people about cleanliness. As Muslims and good citizens, we cannot ignore the importance of cleanliness. Cleanliness is important for human health and for our spiritual development as well as for environmental action. We should buy prayer mats for our children at a young age to let them know about the importance of prayer.
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