Where’s the Qibla? This Prayer Mat Knows

It is a predicament that every travelling Muslim must have faced at least once in their lives: finding the right direction to the Kaaba in Mecca without a compass. Drawing an insight from this tricky situation, Turkish industrial designer Soner Ozenc created the world’s first prayer mat that automatically lights up when facing Mecca. Nicknamed EL Sajjadah (‘EL’ stands for Electro Luminescent), the prayer mat is embedded with a digital compass. Thin, lightweight and flexible, some project it to be the ideal travelling companion for Muslims.

EL Sajjadah has been showcased in numerous exhibitions, including in Kuwait and at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, which purchased a prayer mat to be part of its permanent collection.

The illuminating mat has a black base and heavily features green, the symbolic colour of Islam. The design on the mat was inspired by the legendary Blue Mosque in Istanbul. It can be operated on rechargeable batteries and, yes, a switch is provided to turn the lights off. The prayer mat can also be hung on the wall as a decorative night light. We think it makes for a thoughtful gift that any Muslim can appreciate.

Soner said that demand for the mat has been overwhelming, even though his company has yet to mass-produce the product. He is currently raising funds to begin production on Kickstarter, a fundraising platform, by offering the first editions of the mat on a pre-order basis.