Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) says that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) was the best of all people in character. When the time of prayer came while he (peace and blessings be upon him) was in our house, he would order the mat that was beneath him (peace and blessings be upon him) to be laid out; it would be swept and sprinkled with water. Then he (peace and blessings be upon him) would stand, and we would stand behind him (peace and blessings be upon him), and he (peace and blessings be upon him) would lead us in prayer. That mat was made of palm branches.
Hadith Referenceالسنن الكبرى للبيهقي / كتاب الصلاة / 4992