Prayer rugs were invented in the Middle East as part of the Islam religion.  Because Islam requires that the area that a worshiper uses to pray be clean, it was practical to cover the area with a clean rug in order to be absolutely certain.  Physically, prayer rugs tend to be relatively small, just large enough for an adult to kneel down or prostrate himself in prayer.  Traditionally, prayer rugs are hand-woven, and the best prayer rugs are still made by hand today.  Since many people cannot afford hand-woven prayer rugs, machine-made alternatives are also produced.  At Oriental Rug Care NY, we are able to clean and restore any prayer rug that you bring to us, from a centuries-old antique to a modern one made in the last few years.   (more…)