125.00 €
An archetypal Shia prayer kilim, or janamaz. This small kilim displays all the defining characteristics of the most traditional type of Shia prayer mat: a broad, open central field woven in brown wool symbolizing the earth, a simple, understated border, and a compact overall size.
This janamaz is notably neat and elegant, with a refined, minimalist aesthetic.
Material: 100% hand-spun sheep wool
Size: 76×60 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.
1 in stock
Additional information
| Weight | 0.9 kg |
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