Countdown to the Kaaba's New Kiswa: 10 Stages of Preparing Kiswa
The Kiswa is the black brocade cloth that covers the Kaaba, the cubic structure that millions of Muslims flock to Mecca every year to perform the Hajj pilgrimage. The Kaaba is also the direction of prayer for all Muslims around the world.
The Kiswa, which is black, is a masterpiece of craftsmanship and devotion. It is made of 670 kilograms of raw silk, dyed in jet black and emerald green. It is embroidered with gold-plated thread that forms verses from the Quran and Islamic motifs. The embroidery alone uses 120kg of gold and 100kg of silver threads. The Kiswa also has a belt that wraps around the Kaaba, made of six pieces of cloth with Quranic verses printed on them.
10 phases of preparation
The process that occurs before early Muharram involves 10 stages, beginning with the desalination of the fabric. During this stage, the temperature of the water used to wash the silk of the Kiswa is determined.
The second step consists of washing the cloth at high temperatures to remove the protective layers of wax, followed by dyeing the outer, black side of the Kiswa and the inner, green side known as the Prophet's Chamber.
The third phase focuses on quality control, where random samples are taken from the cloth before and after dyeing. This is followed by the fourth step of automated weaving, which includes over 9,900 threads per meter of silk.
The fifth step involves printing Quranic verses on the Kaaba belt, and the sixth step involves manual embroidery. During the seventh phase, Quranic verses and Islamic inscriptions are embroidered using gold-plated silver wire threads, while in the eighth phase, the quality is checked to ensure the highest standard.
Workers assemble the Kiswa in the ninth phase, and the last step involves replacing the old Kiswa with the new one.
What happens to old Kiswa?
The Kiswa was traditionally changed on the ninth day of Dhu al-Hijjah, coinciding with the day Muslim pilgrims leave for the plains of Mount Arafat during the Hajj pilgrimage. However, this is the second year that Saudi authorities have decided to postpone the event to Muharram.
The old Kiswa is not discarded or wasted. It is removed, cut into small pieces, and given as gifts to individuals and organizations who cherish its religious and historical significance. Some pieces are also sent to different Muslim countries as a gift.
The changing of the Kiswa is a sacred ritual that symbolizes the renewal of faith and dedication of millions of Muslims. It is a testament to the beauty and majesty of Islam and its most holy site, the Kaaba.
Reporting by Arman Saadat
