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| Door of Kaaba |
The beginning of the new Islamic year, i.e. 1st of Muharram al-Haram, was organized today to change the cover of the Kaaba in the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia.
A ceremony was held in Masjid al-Haram to change the cover of the Kaaba called “Kiswa”. Kiswa i.e. covers of Kaaba was transferred from King Abdul-Aziz Complex to Masjid al-Haram.
According to the Saudi news agency SPA, 159 artisans participated in the preparation of the 1350 kg Kaaba cover, which is more than 14 meters long. About 1000 kg of silk, 120 kg of gold, and 100 kg of silver thread have been used to prepare the cover of the Kaaba “Kiswa”.
The covering of the Kaaba, made of hundreds of kilograms of silk, silver, and gold threads, has been changed every year on the occasion of the Hajj in the Islamic month of Dhu-al-Hijja for decades.
Every year, the ceremony of changing the cover of the Kaaba lasts about five hours after the Isha prayer and can be watched live by people worldwide.
However, this tradition has been changed in 2022 and according to the Saudi authorities, this year the ceremony will take place at the beginning of the new Islamic year, i.e. on the 1st of Muharram al-Haram.
When the date for the replacement of the cover of the Kaaba was changed in 2022, a statement was issued by the President of Haramain Sharifin Affairs in which it was stated that the new cover was handed over to the administrators of the Kaaba on the 10th of Dhu-al-Hijja on the royal order, will go and the process of changing it will be done on the 1st of Muharram al-Haram. The statement didn't say why the date was changed.
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| Making of Kiswa |
History of Kiswa
Let's know when the covering of the Kaaba started. Before Islam, which cloth was used for covering the Kaaba and where are the threads used to make this cover in the present day, how many stages are they passed through to check them? And how much does it cost?
There is no reliable information about when the preparation of the cover of the Kaaba began, however, according to several historical books, for the first time in the pre-Islamic period, the king of Yemen, Touba al-Hamiri, covered the Kaaba.
On his return from Makkah, Al-Hamiri made a cover of the Kaaba using a thick cloth. In historical books, this thick cloth has been named “Kashf”'.
Later, the same king had the cover made of 'Al-Ma'afiriya' cloth and for this purpose, the best cloth made in an ancient city of Yemen was used.
In the later periods of Tuba al-Hamiri, various fabrics were used for covering the Kaaba, including leather to Egyptian Coptic cloth.
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| Changing of Kiswa |
Manufacturing of Kiswa
In the past, a cover was sent to the Kaaba every year as a gift from Egypt. During this period Jamal Abdul Nasser was the ruler of Egypt. But in the year 1962, when the cover of Kaaba reached the port, it was too late. On this occasion, in the year 1962, King Saud of Saudi Arabia ordered King Faisal to set up a factory for covers of the Kaaba, which was completed. Since then, it has been produced locally and the series continues.
During the reign of Shah Abdul-Aziz, a separate department was established for the production of this cover (Kiswa) and thus the cloth for this purpose began to be made in Makkah and a factory was also set up for this purpose.
In this factory, even the water used during the preparation of the Kaaba cover is made pak (holy), and the silk used in the preparation of the Kaaba cover is washed with this pak (holy) water.
In this factory, Quranic verses are engraved with gold and silver threads on the silk used to cover the Kaaba. The silk used for the cover is from Italy while the gold and silver threads are from Germany.
A silk thread passes serval quality tests ranging from thread tests to thickness, tenacity, dyeing, matching, washing discoloration, and use with metal threads. These quality tests are overseen by an experienced team at the Shah Abdul-Aziz Complex to ensure the best quality for the Kaaba cover “Kiswa”.
The production cost of this cover “Kiswa” is estimated to be around two crore Saudi Riyals, the most expensive cover in history.
The manufacturing process of this covering is supervised by more than two hundred manufacturers who have been employed with the best qualifications, experience, scientific and practical skills for the affairs of Masjid-e-Nabawi and Kaaba.
The silk is dyed in black and green colors and special chemicals are also used during the manufacture of the cover.
On the occasion of Hajj, the cover of the Kaaba is raised to about three meters and the area below is covered with a white cotton cloth piece to keep the Kiswa clean and protected from tearing.
The Kaaba is the most sacred place in Islam for all Muslims. Every year Muslims perform Hajj to Kaaba on the 8th to 12th of the Islamic month of Dhu-al-Hijja.
Two hundred specialists and managers work in the Kiswa factory established for the manufacture of the Kaaba cover. All of them belong to Saudi Arabia and are experts in their field and highly trained. The cover preparation work is required eight months to complete.
Old Cover Kiswa
Now you must be wondering what happens to the old Kiswa cover. The old cover of the Kaaba is cut into small pieces, and these pieces are presented as gifts to leaders of Muslim countries who visit Saudi Arabia.
For more interesting article click the link: Islamic History
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