In Islamic culture, prayer is deeply intertwined with everyday life. Mosques and prayer carpets play an important role in this context. In this article, we will provide an easy-to-understand explanation from the perspective of a specialty store about the significance of mosques as spaces of worship and the religious and artistic background of prayer carpets.
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The role of prayer carpets in worship
Muslims lay a portable prayer carpet (sajjada) on the floor during their five daily prayers (salat) to create a clean prayer space. The carpet has an arched pattern (mihrab) woven into the top edge, which resembles the niche in the wall of a mosque, and when in use, it is laid facing the direction of Mecca.
This arch not only indicates the direction of prayer, but is also said to symbolize the gate to heaven. After the service, the prayer carpet is carefully rolled up and, although it is an everyday item, is treated with great care as a tool of faith.
Characteristics of Islamic art and stylistic expression
In Islamic art, realistic depictions of people and animals were avoided due to the influence of doctrines that shunned idolatry. Instead, geometric patterns and arabesques , which are arabesque designs of plants, were developed.
Arabesque patterns are organic designs of intertwining vines and leaves arranged symmetrically, with a structure that allows the same pattern to be repeated infinitely. This continuity is thought to symbolize the idea that God's creation is eternally expanding. The complex patterns, which harmonize geometry and plants, give a quiet mysticism to the worship space and help believers become aware of God's presence.
History of prayer carpets in Persia and Türkiye
Carpet weaving has been popular in Persia (present-day Iran) since ancient times, and when Islam was introduced to the country in the 7th century, religious uses were added to traditional techniques, resulting in the creation of prayer carpets. During the Safavid dynasty in the 16th century, Shah Abbas I protected and promoted the carpet industry, and Persian carpets established an international reputation.
Prayer carpets of the time sometimes had Persian poetry or the names of donors woven into them, and there are even examples of them being presented to the Sultans of the Ottoman Empire.Persian carpets tend to feature intricate floral patterns and arabesques, and to feature motifs that symbolize eternal life, such as the "Tree of Life."
On the other hand, prayer carpets from Turkey (the Ottoman Empire) have developed a composition reminiscent of a prayer wall, with slender pillars and lamps on either side of the arch, and are characterized by a more architectural expression. By learning about the differences between regions, you can better appreciate the profound appeal of prayer carpets.
