Prayer+Rug

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 Islamic prayer rugs are very important to Muslims and have been in the Muslim religion since the religion had begun. The rugs are usually small, 3 feet by 5 feet or less, made for one person. Each rug has a very intricate design, at one of the ends there is an arch, facing towards Mecca, where they always face during prayer. Most of the rugs are each hand woven, with either wool, or a higher class Muslim may have a rug woven from silk. The rugs are knotted, usually a couple hundred knots per square. These rugs are the most popular in the “rug belt”, which is in the Middle East spreading across countries like Iran, Turkey, and Afghanistan.

There are two different types of prayer rugs, individual prayer rugs and ‘saf’ prayer rug. An individual prayer rug has the classical arch style and is a smaller size, most faithful Muslims have at least one and it is used for prayer five times a day. The other type of prayer rug, the ‘saf’ style, is used in mosques or in families with multiple people. In mosques the large rugs cover most of the floor, with rows of arches for each person to kneel and pray facing Mecca. In someone’s home many people have family prayer rugs. These are like mini versions of the large rug in the mosque. With two or three rows and three or four tears for the family to pray together on. In more rural areas, such as tribes further in the country side, the design usually is more angular, the arch does not flow as well into the design as other rugs would. The rugs are still very beautiful, with more pointed arches unlike more formal cities that would have a more gracefully rounded arch. In the 15th century the beautiful designs of the rugs became popular in other countries, especially the west. The rugs are manufactured in different sizes, and are used for decoration often.

WHILE YOU DO A GREAT JOB DESCRIBING THE RUGS, YOU NEVER ADDRESS HOW THEY RELATE TO THE FAITH.