Source: bakkah.net/en/category/original-articles Common Acts of Religious Excessiveness (Ghuluww) Regarding “Prayer Rugs” In the Name of Allaah, the Most Gracious, the Ever Mercilful… Allaah says, addressing the Jews and Christians with a stern admonition that Muslims are required to also heed and live by: يا أهل الكتاب لا تغلوا في دينكم “O people of the Book! Do not go overboard in your religion!” [1] His Messenger (may Allaah raise his rank and grant him peace) said: إياكم والغلو فإنما أهلك من كان قبلكم الغلو “Be warned against ghuluww (religious excessiveness), since that which destroyed the people who came before you was ghuluww!” [2] To help fulfill this Prophetic order, this series of brotherly reminders highlights some everyday manifestations of religious excessiveness that Muslims may commonly fall into, so that we can be on guard against them and warn others of them. Obsession with Prayer Mats, Rugs, and Carpets The narrations found in Saheeh al-Bukhaaree and elsewhere, describing the Prophet (may Allaah raise his rank and grant him peace) praying on a khumrah [small mat] and a haseer [large mat] show the permissibility of praying on other than the bare ground. A few of the scholars held the opinion that the prayer may only be offered on the bare ground, so these narrations are a proof against their position. They do not provide a proof for the one who takes this action as part of his Religion, since the Companions did not take this as a religious matter. Rather, they understood it to be permissible, and thus prayed on mats, bedding, clothing, etc. whenever it made sense, for example: In the extreme heat to protect oneself from the heat of the ground. Furthermore, the scholars have stated that it is better for a person to pray directly on the ground if he is able. Shaykh al-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah said: The ahaadeeth and the aathaar (narrations from the Prophet, may Allaah raise his rank and grant him peace, and the Companions) show that they used to prefer placing their foreheads directly on the bare ground if they were able, and when necessary, like in extremely hot weather and the likes, they would pray with something between them and the ground, using something they had with them: a part of their clothing, turban, or cap… [3] However, if someone still holds that these narrations prove the legislated nature of praying on what people today call “prayer rugs”, then we can look again to Shaykh al-Islaam (may Allaah have Mercy on him) who responded to this argument from a number of angles: [1] The Prophet (may Allaah raise his rank and grant him peace) did not pray on them consistently, rather he prayed on them only occasionally, and for a reason, like the extreme heat or the likes. [As opposed to those who make it their Religion to pray on them all the time.] [2] That which the Prophet (may Allaah raise his rank and grant him peace) prayed upon was small in size, just big enough for one’s prostration or slightly larger, unlike the full-body sized “prayer rugs” the people have. [3] The Prophet (may Allaah raise his rank and grant him peace) did not pray on them thinking to protect himself from najaasah (impurities), or just to be sure of the purity of his prayer area, as the people who do not pray except on ”prayer rugs” do. [4] It is not something the Prophet (may Allaah raise his rank and grant him peace) told the Companions to do, and thus they used to pray directly on the ground. So if it was recommended or “Sunnah” to do it, then they would have done it. [5] The Prophet’s masjid (may Allaah raise his rank and grant him peace) had a dirt floor, and while he had access to the mats, bedding, and other things mentioned in the narrations, he did not take any of these things into the masjid to pray on them. [4] Furthermore, it could be added: [6] The Prophet (may Allaah raise his rank and grant him peace) did not used to place one mat upon another, as the “prayer rug” fanatics do, placing their rug on top of carpet or another rug or layer of carpet. [7] He did not have pictures of the Ka’bah, other masjids, colored designs, Allaah’s Names, etc. on the mat he used occastionally, unlike that of the “prayer rug” fanatics. Instead, he would keep such visual distractions away from his prayer area, as he returned a garment that had markings on it for one that did not in order not to be distracted in his prayer, and it is reported that Ibn ‘Umar used to remove visual distractions (like swords and mus-hafs) from the qiblah direction in the masjids. [8] He did not have the pride that would keep one from placing his face on the bare ground, as he used to prostrate directly on it, even when it was moist and remained on his forehead. Those obsessed with prayer rugs could never imagine doing such a thing. Muslims today may often unnecessarily delay their prayers to search for a so-called ”prayer rug”, while the Prophet (may Allaah raise his rank and grant him peace) declared the entire earth as a place of purification and prayer. They may also pay large amounts of money for special imported “prayer rugs” thinking them to have some benefit or special significance related to piety. ACTION PLAN to Shun Excessiveness Here are a few steps to help those who have become attached to “prayer rugs” wean themselves: -1- Keep your house clean, and make some prayers in your house without any additional rugs or mats. -2- The next time you go out to the park when it is prayer time (and there is no masjid nearby), simply pray at a clean place at the park, like at a clean, grassy area, the kind of place you would sit down to have a picnic. Put your forehead directly on the ground, no problem. -3- Think of other uses for the “prayer rugs” – like: coffee table covers, office chair cushions, eating mats, or even welcome mats. They are not “holy rugs” that must be revered. If you are worried about disrespecting images of the Ka’bah or other masjids, then cut them up into pieces so the images are not clear, and use them for rags. And Allaah knows best. Written by: Moosaa Terry Kevin Richardson
Posted on: Wed, 06 Nov 2013 18:41:13 +0000
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