Upon first glance, we thought these rectangular boxes that can be found in parks and along the Corniche, were benches. Eventually we realized they are actually prayer rug holders.
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If you look closely, you can see a crank on the short side. When the crank is turned, a long rug rolls out of the box onto the ground. As the call to prayer goes off, people shuffle toward the box, roll the rug out, remove their shoes, and take their place in a side-by-side line. They always face toward Mecca and the “salat” or prayer ritual involves standing, kneeling, and prostrating oneself on the ground (forehead and nose touch the ground), which is why the rug is important.
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Prayer rugs of all colors and styles are sold in groceries and other shops. You could even splurge for a nice memory foam one. 😁 An individual mat is around 2.5’ x 4’ and most people keep at least one in their car trunk. People frequently stop by the side of the road, or in parking lots, and pull out their rug when it’s prayer time. 🙏
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