Ruling on praying on a mat that contains an image of the ka’bah or Masjid Al-Aqṣā | Sheikh Rashād Adh-Ḍhāli'ee ḥafidhahullāh

٠ Some claim that standing on such prayer mats is degrading, and so it is not permissible. But this is incorrect, because they are merely doing this out of veneration. So to say that it is impermissible to pray/stand on them due to this reason is incorrect. ٠ However, it is disliked to pray on such prayer mats due to these eye-catching designs and pictures. Aishah had a Qirām (a thin marked woolen curtain) with which she had screened one side of the home. The Prophet (ﷺ) instructed her, saying: ((أَمِيطِي عَنَّا قِرَامَكِ هَذَا، فَإِنَّهُ لاَ تَزَالُ تَصَاوِيرُهُ تَعْرِضُ فِي صَلاَتِي)) “Remove this Qirām of yours, as its pictures are still displayed in front of me during my prayer (i.e. they divert my attention from the prayer).” [Bukhāri 374] Likewise, when Abu Jahm gifted a Qamees to the Prophet ﷺ, he ﷺ wore it and offered prayer. But because it distracted him during the prayer, he removed it and returned it back to Abu Jahm. [Agreed upon] So for this reason, it is disliked to pray on such prayer mats. ٠ Buy plain prayer mats. Alhamdulillah they are readily available.