Prayer Rug - The Saph or Communal Prayer Rug

Prayer rugs represent a very special genre with the world of carpets. Technically any small carpet or rug can be used for prayer, so all rugs are prayer rugs. Still, it seems that the prayer rug as a specific type or genre emerged relatively early in the history of the Islamic carpet. What distinguishes a prayer rug in terms of format is the use of an arched doorway, niche or "mihrab" as  an organizing compositional theme or motif. This mihrab replicates the "qibla "or niche in the main wall of a mosque, which enables the faithful to orient themselves toward Mecca when in engaged in prayer or "namaz." Some mihrabs on payer rugs look overtly architectural, with a pointed arch supported by columns to either side. Alternatively, they may simply approximate the shape of such an arched door, or  the arch may become gable-like or stepped. In time prayer rugs became quite elaborate with additional panels above or below the mihrab, as well as several borders surrounding the whole composition.

Without a doubted, however, the most interesting and complex elaboration of the prayer rug format is the multiple-niche payer rug or "Saph." At first glance Saphs look like runners, at least in terms of their long proportions. But unlike runners, where the design is longitudinal, emphasizing the length of the runner, Saphs are oriented  toward the edges, rather than the ends. Their décor consists of niches running form one long edge to the other and placed side by side in serial repetition. Practically, they appear to function as a series of prayer rugs connected side to side for three or more worshipers to use simultaneously or communally.