Vintage Shia prayer kilim or janamaz from Iran. 70x65 cms

This vintage kilim embodies the essence of a Shia prayer kilim or janamaz: simple, austere, and framed by a green border, a colour often associated with the Islamic faith. In this example, the border is narrow and simply frames an oversized main field representing the earth, the space upon which the faithful would pray, which occupies most of the composition of the kilim.

The main field displays a beautiful abrash, with subtle colour variations across the brown surface. This janamaz also stands out for its unusual, almost square proportions.

Material: 100% hand-spun sheep wool 

Size: 70×65 cms

Origin: Qashqai tribe, Iran

Date of weaving: 1990s

It is generally accepted that Shia Muslims, unlike Sunnis, do not use specifically designed kilims or prayer rugs as they pray directly on a rug, a cloth, the ground, a stone or on a Turbah (or Mohr in Persian), a cloth or on a rug.

However, during the last 27 years on my frequent trips to southern Iran, I have repeatedly found that Shia Muslims in southern Iran use a type of small kilim that acts as a Janamaz or prayer kilim. I have acquired some of these tiny kilims directly from the person who used them for prayer and have been confirmed on numerous occasions that this type of kilim is used during prayer.

The small size of these prayer kilims is due to their function of covering the ground only in the area where the faithful will rest their head. The material used is always wool, which, in most cases, is left in its natural undyed colour, representing the earth. It is also significant that many of these kilims have been woven from camel wool in the central field.