A mihrab is the arched niche depicted on a Muslim prayer rug. The motif echoes the architectural mihrab found in mosques — a niche in the wall that indicates the direction of Mecca (qibla), toward which Muslims face during the five daily prayers.
On a prayer rug, the mihrab functions both visually and practically:
- Practically, the rug is laid out so the top of the mihrab points toward Mecca, orienting the worshipper correctly during prayer
- Visually, the mihrab is the rug's organizing design element — everything else is arranged around it
Common mihrab variations include:
- Pointed arch — the most common form, with the niche coming to a peak at the top
- Stepped arch — geometric stair-step rise to the apex (more common in Caucasian and Turkish village production)
- Rounded arch — gentle dome shape (more common in finer city-workshop prayer rugs)
- Double mihrab — two niches sharing a common base; rare and notable
- Multiple-niche format (saf) — a row of mihrabs side by side, intended for communal prayer
The space inside and around the mihrab is filled with decorative elements that carry symbolic and aesthetic meaning:
- Hanging mosque lamp — represents the lamp of the mosque, often suspended from the top of the arch
- Tree of Life — rising from the base of the niche, symbolizing paradise
- Pomegranate trees or vases of flowers — also symbolizing paradise
- Columns flanking the mihrab — representing the architectural columns of a mosque
Different regional weaving traditions developed distinctive mihrab styles. Ghiordes prayer rugs are particularly famous for their architecturally refined mihrab designs. Caucasian prayer rugs (Marasali, Daghestan, Konagkend) often feature stepped or more geometric mihrab forms. Persian prayer rugs (Tabriz, Qum, Isfahan, Kashan) tend toward more curvilinear, floral mihrab compositions.