Holy Kaaba to receive new Kiswa on Muharram 1

MAKKAH AL-MUKARRAMAH, Jun 25 :The Holy Kaaba will receive its new Kiswa (the black cloth that covers the Holy Kaaba) on Muharram 1, marking the beginning of the new Islamic year 1447 AH, as part of an annual tradition.
The old Kiswa will be removed and replaced with a new one, which consists of four separate panels and a door curtain. Each side will be raised individually to the top of the Kaaba in preparation for unfolding it over the corresponding section of the old cloth.
The new Kiswa will be attached from above, after which the ropes of the old cloth will be loosened.
On behalf of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman, Deputy Emir of the Makkah Region and Deputy Chairman of the Permanent Committee for Hajj and Umrah, Prince Saud bin Mishaal, has already handed over the new Kiswa to Abdul Malik bin Taha Al-Shaibi, the senior keeper of the Grand Mosque.
The handover of the Kaaba’s Kiswa is a significant annual tradition in Islam, marking the start of the Islamic year and following the Hajj season. The exquisite black silk cloth is prepared with devotion and craftsmanship at a facility dedicated solely to its production.
Director General of Public Relations and Media at the Complex Ahmed bin Musaed Al-Suwyhiri, while briefing media persons, informed that the preparation of the Kiswa takes approximately 10 months and costs 25 million Saudi Riyals, fully funded by the Saudi government.
The Kiswa is replaced annually on the 1st of Muharram, a moment that signifies spiritual renewal and reflection for Muslims around the world, he added. He said that the materials used in the Kiswa’s production include high-quality silk imported from Germany and Italy. The process involves approximately 1,000 kilograms of raw silk dyed black at the complex, along with 120 kilograms of gold wire and 100 kilograms of silver wire, he said. After the old Kiswa is removed, it is cut into smaller pieces and presented to visiting foreign dignitaries and Islamic organizations, he said.
The Kingdom’s commitment to the Kiswa dates back to 1927, when King Abdulaziz Al Saud established the first workshop for its production. In 1977, a new factory was inaugurated to modernize and expand this sacred tradition. Under the reign of King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the factory was renamed the King Abdulaziz Complex and placed under the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque.