By Asma bint Shameem
The prayer mat or prayer rug (sujjaadah or ‘Jaa’y namaaz’) is a piece of cloth that people usually use to pray on.
However, the prayer mat has NOTHING to do with the Salaah itself.
It is “permissible” to pray on it.
And it is also permissible to pray “without” it.
And the prayer is just as valid without it.
The prayer mat is just there for “our convenience”.
But it’s still only a piece of cloth and nothing more.
We should NOT be placing religious importance to things that are not proven to be of any significance from the Sharee’ah.
Thinking that the prayer mats are “holy” or hold any “religious” value is NOT from the Sunnah and is actually a kind of “extremism” in the Deen.
Salaah is JUST as VALID without it as it is, with it.
In fact, the Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam NEVER “CONSISTENTLY” used a prayer mat like we do.
The majority of the time he prayed on the ground DIRECTLY.
He only “occasionally” used a small mat when there was a NEED; like when it was too hot to place his head on the scorching desert ground.
The Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam did NOT teach the Sahaabah to associate any RELIGIOUS importance to these mats.
NOR did he tell them that they MUST use prayer mats every time they stand up for their Salaah.
They used the mats only when they needed it.
But MOST of the time, they didn’t use prayer mats.
Someone asked Shaykh al-Albaani:
“What’s the ruling on praying on a decorated prayer mat [or carpet]?
Shaykh al-Albaani said:
“There’s no doubt about that being detested [in Islaam].
A Muslim should choose a plain, simple *place* for his prayer, without any rug or carpet there on which there are decorations; there should also not be anything, with regard to those decorations, towards the qiblah [the direction towards which he is praying].” (Riḥlah Al-Nūr, 58, 00:28:35)
Here’s a very interesting article on prayer mats by shaikh Moosaa Richardson.
*Common Acts of Religious Excessiveness (Ghuluww) Regarding “Prayer Rugs, mats and carpets”*
By Shaikh Moosaa Richardson
“Allaah says, addressing the Jews and Christians with a stern admonition that Muslims are required to also heed and live by:
يا أهل الكتاب لا تغلوا في دينكم
“O people of the Book! Do not go overboard in your religion!” (Surah an-Nisaa’ :171)
His Messenger Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam said:
“Be warned against “ghuluww” (religious excessiveness), since that which destroyed the people who came before you was ghuluww!” [Ahmad (1/215), an-Nasaa’ee, Ibn Maajah, and others- Silsilat al-Ahaadeeth as-Saheehah (#1283)]
The narrations found in Saheeh al-Bukhaaree and elsewhere, describing the Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam praying on a khumrah [small mat] and a haseer [large mat] show the *permissibility* of praying on other than the bare ground.
A few of the scholars held the opinion that the prayer may ONLY be offered on the bare ground, so these narrations are a proof *against* their position.
(However) they (also) do not provide a proof for the one who takes this action (of praying on prayer mats) as part of his *Religion*, since the Companions did *not* take this as a religious matter.
Rather, they understood it to be PERMISSIBLE, and thus prayed on mats, bedding, clothing, etc. whenever it made sense, for example: In the extreme heat to protect oneself from the heat of the ground.
Furthermore, the scholars have stated that it is BETTER for a person to pray DIRECTLY on the ground IF he is ABLE.
Shaykh al-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah said:
“The ahaadeeth and the aathaar (narrations from the Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam and the Companions) show that they used to PREFER placing their foreheads DIRECTLY on the bare ground if they were able.
And when necessary, like in extremely hot weather and the likes, they would pray with something between them and the ground, using something they had with them: a part of their clothing, turban, or cap… “
[Majmoo’ al-Fataawee (22/172)]
However, if someone still holds that these narrations prove the legislated nature of praying on what people today call “prayer rugs”, then we can look again to Shaykh al-Islaam (may Allaah have Mercy on him) who responded to this argument from a number of angles:
1. The Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam did not pray on them CONSISTENTLY, rather he prayed on them only OCCASIONALLY, and for a REASON, like the extreme heat or the likes.
[As opposed to those who make it their Religion to pray on them all the time.]
2. That the Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam prayed upon was SMALL in size, just big enough for one’s prostration or slightly larger, unlike the full-body sized “prayer rugs” the people have.
3. The Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam did not pray on them thinking to protect himself from najaasah (impurities), or just to be sure of the purity of his prayer area, as the people who do not pray except on “prayer rugs” do.
4. It is not something the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam told the Companions to do, and thus they used to pray directly on the ground.
So if it was recommended or “Sunnah” to do it, then they would have done it.
5. The Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam’s masjid had a dirt floor, and while he had access to the mats, bedding, and other things mentioned in the narrations, he did not take any of these things into the masjid to pray on them.
[Summarized from Majmoo’ al-Fataawee (22/175-179)
Furthermore, it could be added:
6. The Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam did not used to place one mat upon another, as the “prayer rug” fanatics do, placing their rug on TOP of carpet or another rug or layer of carpet.
7. He did not have pictures of the Ka’bah, other masjids, colored designs, Allaah’s Names, etc. on the mat he used occastionally, unlike that of the “prayer rug” fanatics.
Instead, he would keep such visual distractions AWAY from his prayer area, as he returned a garment that had markings on it for one that did not in order not to be distracted in his prayer, and it is reported that Ibn ‘Umar radhi Allaahu anhu used to remove visual distractions (like swords and mus-hafs) from the qiblah direction in the masjids.
8. He did not have the pride that would keep one from placing his face on the bare ground, as he used to prostrate directly on it, even when it was moist and remained on his forehead.
Those obsessed with prayer rugs could never imagine doing such a thing.
Muslims today may often unnecessarily delay their prayers to search for a so-called “prayer rug”, while the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam declared the entire earth as a place of purification and prayer. (As reported in al-Bukhaari, Muslim)
They may also pay large amounts of money for special imported “prayer rugs” thinking them to have some benefit or special significance related to piety.
ACTION PLAN to SHUN EXCESSIVENESS
Here are a few steps to help those who have become attached to “prayer rugs” wean themselves:
1- Keep your house clean, and make some prayers in your house without any additional rugs or mats.
2- The next time you go out to the park when it is prayer time (and there is no masjid nearby), simply pray at a clean place at the park, like at a clean, grassy area, the kind of place you would sit down to have a picnic.
Put your forehead directly on the ground, no problem.
3- Think of other uses for the “prayer rugs” – like: coffee table covers, office chair cushions, eating mats, or even welcome mats.
They are not “holy rugs” that must be revered.
If you are worried about disrespecting images of the Ka’bah or other masjids, then cut them up into pieces so the images are not clear, and use them for rags.”
(Shaikh Moosaa Richardson: “Common Acts of Religious Excessiveness (Ghuluww) Regarding “Prayer Rugs, mats and carpets”)
And Allaah knows best
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