Vintage Shia prayer kilim or janamaz from Iran. 72x49 cms

A very minimalist vintage Shia prayer kilim (janamaz) from Iran. The simplicity of this prayer rug makes it a perfect example of the austerity that Shia prayer kilims are meant to embody, representing the earth upon which the faithful perform prayer, free from excessive ornamentation. It can be seen as an archetypal Shia prayer kilim, one that later, more elaborate designs may have drawn inspiration from or modeled themselves upon.

The plain field displays a beautiful abrash effect, with subtle colour variations within the undyed natural camel wool, giving the surface a quiet depth and organic warmth despite its overall simplicity.

Material: 100% hand-spun camel and sheep wool

Size:  72×49 cms

Origin: Qashqai tribe, Iran

Date of weaving: 1980s

A janamaz is a prayer rug or mat used by Muslims to define a clean space for prayer. The word janamaz combines Persian/Urdu terms meaning place of prayer.

Within Shia practice, the emphasis in prayer is often on placing the forehead on natural earth or clay (turbah) rather than on a conventional textile rug.

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

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.