Ashaf AboArafe
The General Authority for the Care of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque has commenced the annual ceremonial process of replacing the Kiswa (cloth covering) of the Holy Kaaba, coinciding with the beginning of the Islamic year 1447 AH.
The new Kiswa adorns the Kaaba following the completion of its meticulous production at the King Abdulaziz Complex for the Kiswa of the Kaaba in Umm Al-Joud. The manufacturing process took approximately 11 months and passed through seven precise stages: water purification, washing, weaving, printing, embroidery, assembly, and final inspection. Specially prepared water is used for cleaning, and the raw silk is dyed the iconic black color. Quranic verses are geometrically printed and embroidered onto the fabric with high precision using silver and 24-carat gold-plated threads, followed by thorough quality checks to meet the highest standards before installation.
The Kiswa is transported in a dedicated trailer from the King Abdulaziz Complex to the Grand Mosque. The golden embroidered pieces (muthahabat) from the old Kiswa will be removed after Asr prayer on Wednesday, 29 Dhul-Hijjah 1446 AH, and the official replacement ceremony is set to begin at dawn on Thursday, the first day of Muharram 1447 AH.
The new Kiswa comprises 47 pieces of intricately woven black silk, featuring 68 embroidered Quranic verses in silver and 24-carat gold-plated thread. The total weight of the Kiswa is approximately 1,415 kilograms.
The annual replacement of the Kiswa reflects the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s deep care for the Two Holy Mosques and its dedication to honoring the sanctity and spiritual significance of the Kaaba in the hearts of Muslims worldwide.
