Muslims are expected to pray to Allah (God) five times a day. They can pray anywhere, but they are expected to do so in a clean place. For this reason, Muslims will use a prayer mat if they are not praying in the mosque (the Muslim place of worship). It makes the place where they put the mat a temporary mosque.

Prayer mats are decorated in various ways, including geometric patterns, floral patterns and pictures of famous mosques. Prayer mats always have an arch design on them, and this arch is pointed in the direction of Makkah (Mecca). The mats will never depict people or animals as this is forbidden in Islam to avoid idolatry.