Third Condition of Prayer – Cleanliness of Place

It is essential that the spot where the worshipper has his feet as well as the place on which he puts his knees, hands and foreheads for prostration or Sajdah should be clean.

If prayer is performed on planks of wood, stone, brick floor or on some other thick and hard place, the upper surface of which is clean, then the prayer is valid. There is no harm if the other side of such material is unclean. But if the prayer is said on a thin piece of cloth, the other side of which is not clean, the prayer will not be valid.

If the two folds are not stitched together and the upper one is so thick that foul smell or colour of the dirt (Nijaasat) on the part below is not felt, then the prayer is valid. However, if the two pieces are stitched together, it is better not to say the prayer on it.