Vintage Qashqai kilim from Iran. 72x42 cms

A vintage Qashqai Shia Janamaz or prayer rug. The word  Allah is woven in the kilim, but before sending it from Iran they wove a line in the name because they new in the West will be used for a different purpose than praying, so it will not read anything at all. 

Material: 100% hand-spun sheep wool

Size: 72×42 cms

Origin: Qashqai tribe, Iran

Date of weaving: 2000s

It is generally accepted that Shia Muslims, unlike Sunnis, do not use kilims or prayer rugs as they pray directly on the ground, a stone or on a Turbah (or Mohr in Persian).

However, during the last 26 years on my frequent trips to southern Iran, I have repeatedly found that Shia Muslims in southern Iran use a type of small kilim that acts as a Janamaz or prayer kilim. I have acquired some of these tiny kilims directly from the person who used them for prayer and have been confirmed on numerous occasions that this type of kilim is used during prayer.

The small size of these prayer kilims is due to their function of covering the ground only in the area where the faithful will rest their head. The material used is always wool, which, in most cases, is left in its natural undyed colour, representing the earth. It is also significant that many of these kilims have been woven from camel wool in the central field.

Turkic-speaking pastoral nomadic tribal groups began entering central and southern Iran during the eleventh and twelfth centuries.The Qashqai, as a large tribal unit, dates back at least to the early eighteenth century, when some Turkish(Turki)-speaking tribal groups in the region existed under the name Qashqai.

Qashqai kilims are best known for their boldness and and freedom in the way the pattern is drawn. An aesthetically pleasing geometry, the fineness of their wool and their clear, strong colours combine to ensure their reputation as superlative examples.