The Ruling on Praying on an Ornamented Prayer Mat

Question:
His Eminence the Shaykh, this questioner from Algeria is asking about the ruling on praying on an ornamented prayer mat. Is it a religious innovation?

Answer:
No, it is disliked because it distracts him from his prayer. It is better for him to pray on a plain mat, one without designs, so that it does not occupy his mind from his prayer, or to pray on the clean ground. As for decorated mats, they may distract him from his prayer, so leaving them is more preferable and better.