A rehal[a] (Urdu: رحل, Hindi: रिहाल, Arabic: رَحْل) or rahleTurkish: rahle) or tawla (Arabic: طاولة), is an X-shaped, foldable book rest or lectern used to hold religious scriptures for reverent display, as well as during reading or recitation. It is designed to collapse into a flat form for portability and storage when not in use. This book rest, which is usually made of wood, but also increasingly made of other materials such as plastic, is commonly used by Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs and Eastern Christians.[1] Used historically for many generations in South Asian and Arab countries, it is used both to hold and ensure respect for holy books (such as the Qur'an in Islam, the Ramayana in Hinduism, the Japji Sahib in Sikhism, and the Bible in Christianity) by keeping them elevated off the floor.[1]
The name "rehal" ultimately derives from the Arabic word rahl (رَحْل) meaning "camelsaddle", referring to the resemblance of the unfolded lectern to a saddle.[2]
History
For centuries folding lecterns have served throughout the Islamic world as supports for large Qur’an books used during recitations. They were among the most valuable furnishings of every mosque and were decorated using a variety of techniques, including calligraphy and abstract floral arabesque motifs. Secondary literature maintains that the form of these lecterns had been derived from folding chairs such as those that had already been used in ancient Egypt.[3] Certain English-speaking Muslims refer to the rehal as a "Qur'an stand". Among Christians, especially those living in the Indian subcontinent and in the Middle East, the rehal is used to hold the Bible, having a prominent position on church communion tables, as well as on home altars; in English, these are known as Bible stands, though these can be foldable or fixed at an acute angle.[4][5]
^ abDuerksen, Darren (12 January 2015). Ecclesial Identities in a Multi-Faith Context: Jesus Truth-Gatherings (Yeshu Satsangs) among Hindus and Sikhs in Northwest India. Wipf and Stock Publishers. ISBN978-1-63087-885-6. In this case, the use of the rehal connects with the sense of how "God's word" should be reverently treated.
^Tenerowicz, Eleonora. . etnomuzeum.eu (in Polish). Ethnographic Museum of Krakow. Archived from the original on 24 January 2021.
^Talman, Harley; Travis, John Jay (1 September 2015). Understanding Insider Movements: Disciples of Jesus within Diverse Religious Communities. William Carey Publishing. ISBN978-0-87808-993-2.
^Turnbull, A. (1890). A Darjeeling Holiday. The Church of Scotland Home and Foreign Mission Record. p. 554.
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May 17, 2023
rehal, book, rest, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, rehal, book, rest, news, newspapers, books, schol. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Rehal book rest news newspapers books scholar JSTOR February 2020 Learn how and when to remove this template message A rehal a Urdu رحل Hindi र ह ल Arabic ر ح ل or rahle Turkish rahle or tawla Arabic طاولة is an X shaped foldable book rest or lectern used to hold religious scriptures for reverent display as well as during reading or recitation It is designed to collapse into a flat form for portability and storage when not in use This book rest which is usually made of wood but also increasingly made of other materials such as plastic is commonly used by Muslims Hindus Sikhs and Eastern Christians 1 Used historically for many generations in South Asian and Arab countries it is used both to hold and ensure respect for holy books such as the Qur an in Islam the Ramayana in Hinduism the Japji Sahib in Sikhism and the Bible in Christianity by keeping them elevated off the floor 1 A wooden rehal Contents 1 Etymology 2 History 3 Gallery 4 See also 5 Notes 6 ReferencesEtymology EditThe name rehal ultimately derives from the Arabic word rahl ر ح ل meaning camel saddle referring to the resemblance of the unfolded lectern to a saddle 2 History EditFor centuries folding lecterns have served throughout the Islamic world as supports for large Qur an books used during recitations They were among the most valuable furnishings of every mosque and were decorated using a variety of techniques including calligraphy and abstract floral arabesque motifs Secondary literature maintains that the form of these lecterns had been derived from folding chairs such as those that had already been used in ancient Egypt 3 Certain English speaking Muslims refer to the rehal as a Qur an stand Among Christians especially those living in the Indian subcontinent and in the Middle East the rehal is used to hold the Bible having a prominent position on church communion tables as well as on home altars in English these are known as Bible stands though these can be foldable or fixed at an acute angle 4 5 Gallery Edit Qur an and rehal Depiction of a rehal with the Ramayana placed on it Qur an placed on a rehal at the Abuja National Mosque Nigeria An unusual double rehal in this case used for studyingSee also EditBible caseNotes Edit Also variously romanised from Urdu and Hindi as rayhal or rihal and from Arabic as rahla or rahil References Edit a b Duerksen Darren 12 January 2015 Ecclesial Identities in a Multi Faith Context Jesus Truth Gatherings Yeshu Satsangs among Hindus and Sikhs in Northwest India Wipf and Stock Publishers ISBN 978 1 63087 885 6 In this case the use of the rehal connects with the sense of how God s word should be reverently treated Tenerowicz Eleonora Skladany pulpit pod Koran etnomuzeum eu in Polish Ethnographic Museum of Krakow Archived from the original on 24 January 2021 Qur an stand Discover Islamic Art Virtual Museum islamicart museumwnf org Museum with No Frontiers Archived from the original on 25 July 2021 Talman Harley Travis John Jay 1 September 2015 Understanding Insider Movements Disciples of Jesus within Diverse Religious Communities William Carey Publishing ISBN 978 0 87808 993 2 Turnbull A 1890 A Darjeeling Holiday The Church of Scotland Home and Foreign Mission Record p 554 Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bookstands Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Rehal book rest amp oldid 1154186842, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
