rulings regarding prayer rugs.

[x7anooonah]

Asalam Alaykum,

I have always prayed on a rug not because I thought I had to but because I wanted to make sure that I was praying on a clean surface. Another sister told me that praying on rugs is not permissible and also that praying on soft rugs is not permissible what so ever.

Can you please explain to me the rulings on what we should pray on, if praying on rugs or even soft things is ok. I started praying on the floors since dirt is not considered un-pure and I want to do the right thing, am I right?

[Imam]

Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem

Wa'alaykum 'Assalam wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu


All Praise be to Allah who is the Lord of the Worlds, and may Endless Blessings be showered upon His Most Beloved, and Final Messenger of Islam, Hadrat Muhammad Mustafa Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam

One of the conditions of praying salah, is that the place should be clean.
In the days of the Beloved Messenger Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam, there were no prayer mats or rugs, and Islam advanced through the stages when the salah was prayed on the bare earth.

It is for our convenience, that we use rugs and prayer mats (musallahs), as they cover the part of the floor which may have been stepped on, by people/persons wearing shoes. However, either rugs or prayer mats maybe used, if the intention is to make prostration at a clean place.

Another condition of salah, is that the bone of the nose, should feel it's presence, when the prostration is being made. Thus something which would be too soft, which would disallow you to feel the bone of your nose, whilst making the prostration, would be invalid, and I think that is the point your friend (i.e. the sister) was trying to make.

In any event if the above is not the case, then it is perfectly alright to use the rug, even though it has a slight softness, as long as you can feel your forehead and nose prostrating on the floor, and you are quiet content in making a 'good prostration'.


Jazak'allah for your question.





Wallahu A'lamu Biththawaab


M. Waseem Ashrafi