How to Perform Muslim Prayers in an Islamic Style Using a Prayer Mat
A prayer mat or prayer rug is typically a flat piece of cloth, sometimes an oval pile carpet, utilized by Muslims and other Christians during prayer. In Islam, it laid on the floor and between the praying person and the congregation for proper hygiene during the many positions of Islamic prayer. It also helps provide comfort to the people while they are listening to Muslim preaching. The best way to describe a prayer mat is the prayer rugs worn by Jews and Christians during their prayer, except that in Christianity the prayer rugs are bigger and have more designs on them. In the Muslim world, the prayer rugs are smaller and more basic. They are not often intricately designed like the Christian rugs are.
There are many reasons why Muslims used the flat luxury prayer mat. One reason was because of their habit of walking barefoot. They would use a blanket or rug to keep their feet warm on cold floors. Another reason, which is more of a tradition, is because Muslims were forced to wear long gowns. Wearing wool clothes was not allowed, so they would pray barefoot. After all, the floor was supposed to be free of any clothing, lest one be exposed to the ‘haram’ — unclean.
Worn as prayer rugs in the Muslim world, prayer rugs have become a niche item in their respective cultures. Some markets are specifically devoted to selling Muslim rugs. In the United Kingdom, some prayer rugs are even made to order by special designers in Muslim countries. These prayer rugs can be bought from specialty stores or online at specialty websites.
When a prayer mat is manufactured, there are two main categories, the masalas, and the abayas. The masalas are usually made out of wool and would have a quilt top and matching criss-cross pile. The abayas, on the other hand, are usually made from cotton with a square pattern or as a square, narrow rug. Both kinds of prayer rugs are considered halal, or licit to be used for Muslim worship. This is one reason why they are so popular with Muslims.
It is not that hard to learn how to perform the Muslim prayer in an outfit other than the standard kameez or a long robe. You can even cut your turban short and wear it underneath your loose-fitting clothes. There are many ways on how to do your prayer in an outfit other than wearing the standard kameez. You can opt to tie your headscarf (hijab) behind your back, which is considered to be halal for women. If you are really stubborn, you can also cover your head with a shawl instead.
The question that I have for you today is — how to perform the Muslim grey prayer mat in an uncomfortable outfit? Easy! You can always do it wearing loose-fitting clothes, like a loose pair of jeans or a cotton shirt. Wear loose clothes, so you can move around freely without feeling uncomfortable. If you really want to do your prayer in an outfit you can go ahead and wear a long abaya or long masalas over your regular clothing. This way, while you are doing your prayer you will feel free to move about as you please.
Before you go shopping for your prayer mat, make sure that the one you buy is made from a thick and durable material. This is important because you cannot afford to have your prayer mat for a few days or weeks because you might be using it outdoors. It is also good to buy your mat from an online store or an actual store where you can see and touch the product before purchasing. When you get your prayer rug from an actual store, check if it is sealed and if it has zips and openings in it so that your prayer rug won’t get dirty. You would not want your al-bukari or prayer mat to get dirty even during prayer time.
Prayer rugs also come in different colors. You can opt to have light colors like white or ivory to blend well with your other outfits. You can also choose dark colors like dark blue or dark green for a more formal look. Prayer mats for Muslim households come in different price ranges as well. You can shop around for the best prices from your local Turkish or Saudi Arabian shop or an online store catering to Muslims.
