Praying on an Italian Velvet Prayer Mat Bearing an Image of the Two Sanctuaries

Question

Some days ago Mufti ‘Aziz al-Rahman Bijnori published a fatwa in which he insisted that the Italian velvet prayer mat, which pilgrims usually bring back with them from the Hijaz and which bears an image of the Two Noble Sanctuaries (al-Haramayn al-Sharifayn), is not fit for use in prayer, and he forbade praying on it. He holds that it is a conspiracy of the Jews whose aim is to divide attention in prayer and to deprive one of the sweetness of intimate supplication.

Answer

I have no knowledge of any conspiracy or intention of the Jews regarding the prayer mats brought from the Two Noble Sanctuaries. The image on it is not of a living being; therefore it does not fall under the ruling that the jurists recorded as makruh — [namely, an image] which entails resemblance to the worship of idols. As for the patterns, why confine the issue to this [mat]?

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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