As any person with anxiety would, I’d always search for something that can bring me peace. Could it be a song? Taking a hot shower? Breathing exercises? These helped, but I needed something that I could never get tired of. I always take hot showers, listen to the same songs repeatedly, and breathe regularly as any average human would. This anxiety reliever was always lying around in my house, but I never thought It’d help me cope with my anxiety until I understood its purpose. It was a prayer mat. When I tell any other Muslim that I feel safe, the minute I step on that prayer mat, they always say, “you know you can pray on anything; you don’t even need a prayer mat to pray; you can just pray without it.” I’m aware of all those things, but it’s the idea of a prayer mat that makes me feel calm.
I’d always tell people that this is where my anxiety disappeared. There is nothing special about it, really. It’s exactly like every prayer mat other Muslims use. My prayer mat is just a piece of fabric with a picture of a mosque on it. It’s brown, beige, and decorated with different shapes and patterns. I’ve had it for about four years now, and I still remember how I felt the first time I prayed on it. It brings me peace because of the meaning behind it. It brings me closer to God, and I feel like it’s the greatest connection I have with Allah. It reminds me of a greater power that I pray to every day. It reminds me that when I’m feeling uneasy, I could always pray. I chose to do this. I didn’t need anyone to teach it to me like it was a new coping mechanism. It’s just what makes sense to me. Sure, there’s nothing special about it, but it does feel nice knowing I’m the only person that has ever prayed on this exact prayer mat. I look at it every day, knowing how I will feel the minute I stand on it, and that alone makes me feel calm. If there is anything in the world that could make me feel safe, it’s this prayer mat.