Prayer rugs are
typically small pieces of embroidery used by Islamic worshipers who
kneel, bow and prostrate themselves in humility before their God. Prayer
rugs are not universally used by Muslims, nor are they specifically
required in Islam. What is required is that the area where the prayers
are being performed be clean. For many, these have become a traditional
way to ensure such cleanliness as well as create a central, isolated
space to pray.
Prayer rugs will generally have either a geometric,
arabesque, or floral design colored with natural dyes. They can
frequently depict such Islamic landmarks as the Al-Aqsa Mosque in
Jerusalem or the Ka'aba in Mecca. The design will most often feature a
'top' and 'bottom', important because the bottom is where the one
praying stands and the top points towards the direction of the prayer.
When it comes time to pray, the worshipper will lay his carpet on the
ground with the top pointing towards Mecca, in Saudi Arabia. Afterwards,
the piece can conveniently be rolled or folded and stored easily.
Prayer rugs have captivated collectors since the beginning of modern
collecting and have really grown in popularity since toward the end of the nineteenth century. They were also highly
appealing to the more affluent middle class when these started furnishing
their homes with imported goods in the latter decades of the same
century. They are often discussed in a rather valued abstract, decontextualized way among collectors.
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