How a Prayer Mat Holds a Community Together

There is a difference between an object and a belonging. An object can be catalogued, classified, placed behind glass, and admired from a distance. A belonging, however, carries a quality that cannot be so easily contained. It carries the memory of a life, the intimacy of a ritual, the presence of a person, and the inheritance of a community. It is not simply an object that exists in the world, but a medium through which we come to understand who we are. To an unfamiliar eye, a prayer mat might appear to be a piece of woven fabric, distinguished by its colours, patterns, materials, or place of origin. In a museum, it might be displayed as an example of religious craftsmanship, its description reduced to a date, a geographical location, and a few lines of historical context. Yet, for the person who kneels upon it, the mat is altogether different. It may hold the memory of a parent’s prayers, the reassurance of a familiar ritual, or the comfort of turning towards God in an unfamiliar place. It may also have travelled across borders, accompanied a family through displacement,Continue reading "How a Prayer Mat Holds a Community Together" The post How a Prayer Mat Holds a Community Together first appeared on Egyptian Streets.