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Allahu Akbar, Allahu
akbar -God is most great, God is most great! These are the beginning
words of the adhan (call to prayer) that beckon Muslims to prayer
five times a day. Along with the call to prayer and ablutions, meant
to purify and prepare the body for presentation before Allah (God),
the prayer rug is of central importance to prayer.
Not only does the prayer rug compliment the idea of purity by providing
a clean place for Muslims to pray, but it also serves as a portable
sanctuary that can be rolled out anytime, anywhere. Perhaps the
greatest significance of the prayer rug lies not in its physical
existence, but in in the symbolism of its artistic details.
This particular prayer rug comes from 19th century Iran and is made
of cotton. Its depiction of spring flowers and its vivid shades
of yellow, red, and blue are characteristic of Iranian textiles
and carpets. The red panel located in the center of the rug is a
representation of a mihrab, a prayer niche that points towards
the direction of Mecca, which is the location of the yearly hijra
(pilgrimage).
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Mihrab Prayer Rug (19th century Iran)
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