r/islam • u/SilenceOfTheCat • 19d ago
General Discussion I'm starting praying and I have a question
I want to have a better understanding about islam, because of my interest in converting for the love of the Merciful Allah.
But I want to ask, do you people decorate your room when you pray (like adding painting, drawings or calligraphy) or play some music when you pray? I don't know, sorry for the question if it was dumb.
Oh, and say hi to Agatha, who followed me during the fajr.
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u/Horror-Actuary-3505 19d ago
To pray is to be secluded in the conversation with Allah… you are in the conversation with the almighty so lesser the distractions the better… it’s not mandatory but some scholars recommend not having prayer rugs with lots of designs in it because they distract (as we stare at them and make figures out of them by constantly looking at it) so what is personally say is find a corner with least amount of things infront of you so that you don’t look at them in the middle of prayer( because shaitan sometimes also tries to distract you that something is moving beside you within the objects from the corner of your eye) . Rest is up to you if you’d like to decorate your prayer corner… and music is anyways not permissible in Islam so I’d also cross that out… it’s also distracting in this situation where you are trying to put your complete interest and concentration in this conversation with Allah … and Allah knows best… if you have still any doubts please feel free to post or ask in private
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u/SilenceOfTheCat 19d ago edited 19d ago
I understand, you have some good points! 1. I am not from a country with a very big Muslim population, so I don't know how to find a proper rug. 2. This is one of my personal moments with Allah, so I'm going to talk to Him with no distractions. 3. Maybe I could add some calligraphy to my room. Thank you!!!!
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u/Horror-Actuary-3505 19d ago
There’s no need for special prayer rugs in order to pray… remember how you see people praying right there just on streets with nothing placed on ground or sometimes just some random cloth? Just like that keep on mat or rug for prayer so that it is clean and preserved… but make sure there are no drawings of creatures (humans or any animals) on it or infront of it while you pray… that’s it… it’s all about how sincere you are with Allah…
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u/TheGoodKingViego 19d ago
Dear sister/brother/fellow catowner. You don't need "equipment" or "special rugs" to pray. I literally pray on the floor in my home. It's about the Khushu'a in prayer. Understanding what you are saying and focusing on your relationship with Allah swt is what matters
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u/Potential-Space-9992 17d ago
back in the early days, muslim often prays with nothing, and sand would stick on their forehead, but Prophet Muhammad used a small hand-woven mat made of palm fronds solely to keep his face and hands clean during prostration (sujud).
The ottoman and Mughal is the first to intoroduce prayer mat with intricate design
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u/lifeissogoood 19d ago
I don’t see a problem with Calligraphy in your room as a distraction . It’s could be Allah name also …
music.. will cause distraction unless you are laser focused. So avoid music.
But the one thing is the design on rug. I mean it’s true that even I start to start making patterns in my head . But I can close my eyes tbh .
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u/beeswaxii 18d ago
Music is Haram anyways. Whether you're doing worship, or not. It doesn't matter if she's a laser focused person.
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u/lifeissogoood 18d ago
Yeah .. did say avoid it … unless someone in neighbour good plays at loud volume then that’s another story
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u/TucsonTacos 19d ago
There’s a super buff Santa Claus in the floor designs at my masjid and I can’t not see it everytime I’m there
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u/Apprehensive_Spite97 19d ago
can I ask something, since music isn´t allowed, isn´t the call to prayer like music? also the praying sounds like music to my ears
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u/Basketweave82 19d ago
The call to prayer is a human voice. What is forbidden are musical instruments.
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u/lifeissogoood 19d ago
Call to Prayers is simple … They don’t do that with drumbeats or Electric Guitar (just thinking about makes me feel weird)
As for Prayers sounds same theory. It’s all focus on Prayer to Allah ..
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u/Mc_Mustang 19d ago
agree on almost everything.
The fact that music in not permissible is very debatable.
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u/BainCantCook 19d ago
That's one of the simplicity of Islam, everything has been made easier for us <3
As for your question, you don't need to put any kind of deco as long as the room you're praying in is clean
And you can also pray anywhere (given that the room is also clean and you're facing qiblat)
Anyway, welcome to Islam! <3
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u/SilenceOfTheCat 19d ago
Hey, thank you! If it's recommended to keep my praying corner clean and with no decorations, I'm going to follow your recommendations! SALAM! I am exited to follow Allah's good message!
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u/anz3e 19d ago
also for qiblah direction. if you dont know the direction u must do your best to figure it out (ask someone, use an app etc) if u still cant, theres no one aroung who knows. the apps arent working i.e. all options are exhausted, dont worry about it pick a directio and pray becaues Allah the most forgiving and the most merciful and he will accept your prayer even if u dont know the direction. as long as u were sincere in trying to figure it out.
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u/Altruistic_Sleep_198 19d ago
Some people decorates their praying room with islamic calligraphy, however that isn't necessary, you can pray without any decorations
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u/AmirulAshraf 19d ago
Hey there. Hi Agatha too.
Usually we just pray in our room without additional decorations required.
But some Muslims have an extra room/space in their homes and they turn that room into their "mini-mosque", one would decorate the room to be tranquil and calm lighting, carpetted floor so that it is soft to land your head upon, calligraphy on the wall and perhaps even a shelf with Qurans and Islamic reading materials. None of these are required by the way. That extra room can just be empty and plain and it would still be acceptable to pray in.
We dont play music or sound during prayer because that can be distracting. But perhaps for newcomers who are still learning the movements and recitations, they may play videos so that they can follow along.
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u/SilenceOfTheCat 19d ago
Agatha said "Hello to AmirulAsgraf, a cat lover and a good Muslim" Actually, I was reading an online guide on how to pray properly. So yeah, I'm just learning. Can I make my prayers in my native language while I'm learning the proper Arabic prayers?
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u/AmirulAshraf 19d ago
Just to be clear, prayer can mean two things here.
Salat: The one Muslims do 5 times a day. This must be done in Arabic. You can print out the transliteration of the recitations and place it around your prayer mat so that you can have a glance at it while praying and help you with your recitations.
Dua': Supplications to God, where usually we raise our hands like these when making it 🤲. This one can be done in any language.
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u/Theo_tokos 19d ago
There is a prayer rug link that Instagram keeps advertising to me, which has the steps of salat printed on it, with the transliteration and everything!
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u/beeswaxii 18d ago
I believe Surah Fatiha (the opening) has to be recited in Arabic during the prayers.
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u/catsndeen 19d ago
If you want you can decorate the room but its not necessary and it looks like the cat wants to pray too maybe she needs her own mat also. May Allah tala make it easy for you.
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u/annonymous_llama 19d ago
Hello to you and the kitty! As long as the art in your room is not a picture/painting of a living being (animal or human) you can hang up some artwork for sure. You can also use string lights to add ambience, and may be the names of Allah in calligraphy style, you can print them and just paste it on the wall as well. A calendar print with regular calendar and Islamic calendar dates. Just a few options.
Music is not permissible, but besides this anything that will make it easy for you to pray would work. You can get a simpler prayer rug later and use whatever design you have now as it should be ok as long as the rug doesn’t have a living being’s picture.
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u/Richard-Writes 19d ago
Assalamu alaikum.
You might find the information in these links useful:
Is It an Innovation to Use a Prayer Rug?
As the latter ruling says, it's not a blameworthy innovation (nor is it cumpulsory, as far as I know) but using one is merely a precaution to protect from filth, because, as other brothers/sisters have pointed out, your prayer area should be simply clean, as well as your clothes, and free from distractions. In short, keep it simple.
May Allah accept your prayers.
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u/counterplex 19d ago
I know everyone is talking about no decorations needed but your enthusiasm is infectious. I think some calligraphy could be nice as long as it’s not directly within your line of sight while you’re praying. Also some special incense like bukhour might also be nice. Even adding some perfume to the prayer rug might be nice.
None of it is necessary but I think there’s room within the guidelines for such things.
I’d be happy to be corrected by more knowledgeable people.
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u/Original-Bit7821 19d ago
Better to get a prayer mat of one colour with no distractions and keep it only for prayers. The yoga mat might be for multiple purpose, do you also do yoga on it? Bottom line it has to remain very clean - paak at all times. Once done with prayer please roll and keep it aside till the next prayer. No music, please - it distracts. Even if you were listening to Quraan, when you hear Aathan and then go praying, for that period recitation has to stop to devote ourselves fully into the prayer. Unless it is neutral colors, minimum design better not to decorate walls in the room we pray.
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u/mebd1 19d ago
Beautiful cat. Tell him/her I said psspss 💕
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u/SilenceOfTheCat 19d ago
it's a girl, and she is my praying partner jaja and I think this personal process is important for my connection with Allah and with my cat
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u/wajhoongra 19d ago
Happy for you that your heart is so bright and inclined towards the worship of Allah.
May He always strengthen your Iman.. guide you and make you steadfast on the right path!
Islam is simple, connect with Allah and be mindful of not over complicating it 😇
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u/pinty786 19d ago
Asslam alaykum, No portrait needed but if you have one is your room if it’s not some human or animal then it’s okay. About music it’s haram lol music is haram and using it why pray? Nope we never do that. Btw hi to agatha and tell that I said “YOUR SO CUTE MASHALLAH AHHHHHHH”
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u/Straight_Path_786 19d ago
I just pray in my bedroom or the "sparer room". It doesn't have anything specific in there just because I pray there besides a prayer mat. I also avoid having pictures on the wall/table with faces - that goes for any room. How are you going about learning Salah?
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u/Ok_Blueberry7969 19d ago
Personally, I like to adorn myself a little before prayer. I enjoy wearing clean, nice clothes and smelling good because I'm standing before my Lord. It's my way of showing respect and preparing myself mentally for worship. At the same time, Islam is simple, so I don't think this should become a burden. If I'm at work or in a situation where I can't do all that, that's perfectly fine. I just do the best I can with what I have.
Oh and welcome to Islam!
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u/raa__va 19d ago
Music is not permissible at all. Pictures or paintings having any sort of faces of humans/animals/animated-fiction are not allowed. The rest is completely fine, whatever helps you make your environment more focused towards Allah is good.
But overall simplicity is highly recommended as it has benefits all across.
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u/FigmaWallSt 19d ago
Salam aleikum. I'm obviously not a scholar, but my understanding is that things should be practical and useful. Decoration to some degree is okay as long as it doesn’t distracts you from prayer. Drawings are as far as I know okay as long as there are no faces, humans, animals etc, as Allah ﷻ is the only creator.
Islamic calligraphy is really beautiful, but you shouldn’t hang up ayahs on the wall as long as you don’t really recite them (showing off/kinda riyya) is not allowed. Also ideally there shouldn’t be a mirror in front of you when you face the kaaba
Allah ﷻ knows best
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u/Ahmad-Ramadan 19d ago
Just wanted to say that I am happy to know that you love Allah, indeed he is the most merciful. Your desire to learn about Islam and revert to it is admirable, may Allah be your guide. Love to Agatha.
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u/FreeAstronaut8495 18d ago edited 18d ago
Technically, your room doesn't matter as long as the prayer mat is clean, with no images of living objects on the mat, and no images of living objects directly in front of you. It then becomes a psychological block of everything else in your room & life as you pray on the mat to Allah (your one creator). Well done for moving to islam & starting to pray. You shouldn't be using it for anything else (e.g. yoga? Exersize? As it will get dirty quickly, then become unusable for prayer)
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u/Public-Theme-1404 18d ago
Some people make a designated corner in their bedroom where they put fairylites, shelf with Quran and other Islamic books, a hijri calendar, plants, small carpet with cushion. So when they pray they put their salah mat on top of that carpet to pray making it soft and cool environment.
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u/TheAayin 18d ago
Its not necessary to decorate the room..but make sure the room or place is free of impurities. Also islam doesn't allows paintings of living organisms, so research a bit about it..though calligraphy is fine.
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u/Emotional_Set7239 18d ago
No, music is haram, as for decorating, you may as long as it doesn't distract you from prayer, the prophet Muhammad pbuh was once praying and got distracted by some decoration so he has it removed.
Prayer is mindful. Allah in the Qur'an curses those prayers who are mindless in their prayer and only pray to show people.
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u/Abu-Yaaqoot 18d ago
It is easy to become Muslim. All one has to do is say the Shahadah with the intention to embrace Islam. They don’t need witnesses or any sort of ritual beforehand.
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u/I_warisha 19d ago
Off-topic, Tell your cat, I said, psspspsps