Latest news with #HolyKaaba
Saudi Gazette
18 hours ago
- General
- Saudi Gazette
Makkah Deputy Emir hands over Kaaba's new Kiswa to Senior Keeper Al-Shaibi
Saudi Gazette report MAKKAH — On behalf of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman, Deputy Emir of Makkah Region and Deputy Chairman of the Permanent Committee for Hajj and Umrah Prince Saud bin Mishaal handed over the Holy Kaaba's new cover (Kiswa) to Abdul Malik bin Taha Al-Shaibi, the senior keeper of the Grand Mosque. The handover of the Kaaba Kiswa, the black cloth covering the Kaaba, is a significant annual tradition in Islam, marking the start of the new Islamic year and preceding the Hajj season. The Kiswa handover ceremony is a demonstration of the leadership's care and attention to the Kaaba, Islam's holiest shrine. The handover documents were signed by Minister of Hajj and Umrah and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, and Senior Keeper of the Grand Mosque Abdul Malik bin Taha Al-Shaibi. The handover ceremony marks the upcoming replacement of the Holy Kaaba's Kiswa on the first day of Muharram 1447 AH. The new Kiswa was produced by the King Abdulaziz Complex for Holy Kaaba Kiswa using natural black-dyed silk, embroidered in gold and silver threads. The covering stands 14 meters high and features, in its upper third, a belt that is 95 centimeters wide and 47 meters long, composed of 16 pieces framed by Islamic decorative patterns. It is made up of five pieces of cloth, including the curtain that covers the Kaaba door, sewed together. The handover ceremony is part of the preparations and procedures for replacing the Holy Kaaba's Kiswa in the beginning of the year 1447 AH, reflecting the leadership's care and attention to every stage from production to completion of the replacement.
Arab News
24-04-2025
- General
- Arab News
Saudi exhibition takes Indonesians on virtual tour of Islamic heritage
JAKARTA: A week-long Saudi exhibition opened in Jakarta on Thursday, offering Indonesian visitors virtual tours of the Grand Mosque in Makkah and the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah, as well as a display of the features of the Holy Kaaba. Organized by Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Islamic Affairs and Indonesia's Ministry of Religious Affairs, the display, titled 'Jusoor' or bridges, is being held at the Istiqlal Mosque complex in Jakarta. The event is free to the public and will run until May 3. It was inaugurated by Indonesia's Religious Affairs Minister Nasaruddin Umar and Saudi Arabia's Islamic Affairs Undersecretary Dr. Awwad bin Sabti Al-Anzi. 'This exhibition symbolizes the strengthening of cultural and diplomatic relations between Indonesia and Saudi Arabia, while also serving as a platform to introduce the rich history and civilization of Islam to the general public,' Umar said on social media. 'Through the collection of artifacts, ancient manuscripts, and interactive multimedia installations, (it) invites visitors to explore the Islamic world's contribution to science, art and culture across time.' Aside from the virtual tours of the two holy mosques, the Saudi exhibition in Jakarta features their scale models and photos of the Kaaba. Designed to be educational and child-friendly, it also invites visitors to explore the printing of the Qur'an, view rare manuscripts, learn about Arabic calligraphy, and to taste qahwa — the traditional Arabic coffee. Organizers are aiming to attract 1 million visitors. 'The exhibition, which aims to attract 1 million visitors, embodies the Kingdom's efforts to spread moderation, serve the Holy Qur'an, and strengthen bridges of cultural and human communication between peoples,' the Saudi Ministry of Islamic Affairs said in a statement on X. According to Ahmad Zayadi, information director of Islamic affairs at Indonesia's Religious Affairs Ministry, the event showcases Saudi Arabia's role in world culture and history. '(The Kingdom's) standing in the Islamic world makes it a center of civilization that is inseparable from mankind's history and cultural development,' Zayadi said. 'We are showing the world that religion and culture are not just legacies of the past, but a strategic foundation to build future civilizations.'
Arab News
02-04-2025
- General
- Arab News
Faith in every shell: Karachi's Hindu artisan honors Islamic art through seashell creations
KARACHI: In a modest home situated in one of the narrow streets of a portside slum in the Pakistani megacity of Karachi, a 64-year-old artisan gently picked up a seashell, wiped it clean and began to inscribe it in ink with the names of Allah and the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). With careful strokes, he transformed the shell into a delicate showpiece, destined for display in upscale shops in Clifton and, eventually, homes across Pakistan. The piece is special, and so is the maker: Babu Lal, a Hindu by faith. Hindus make up 2.14 percent of Pakistan's population, according to the 2017 census, with a majority of them living in the southern Sindh province, of which Karachi is the capital. In many areas of Sindh, Hindus and Muslims have historically coexisted, though reports of discrimination and violence, such as forced conversions of Hindu girls, blasphemy accusations and land grabs, have increased in recent decades, drawing concern from human rights groups. And yet, in Karachi's coastal area of Ibrahim Haideri — along with parts of the Qur'angi and Clifton neighborhoods — nearly 300 Hindu families have kept this seashell art tradition alive, passing it down through generations since well before the country's independence in 1947. 'Our art teaches respect for all religions, and we work for all religions,' Lal told Arab News, his weathered hands working on a shell. 'We first bring shells from the sea, then clean and wash them, and after that, we make art products from them and supply them to the market,' he said. 'All the hard work and labor in this process is done by hand. There is no machine work involved.' Lal's creations include a wide range of items from keychains and glass ornaments to frames bearing sacred names and miniature replicas of the Holy Kaaba, among the most sought-after items in the market. 'While making these items, we take extra care in cleaning and handling them,' he said. 'We do all this work quite carefully.' UNCERTAIN FUTURE Lal's journey as an artisan began in childhood when he learned the trade by watching his father and grandfather at work over half a century ago. But the future of the craft is now uncertain, due to a lack of institutional support and limited opportunities for artisans like himself. This has discouraged him from passing the craft on to his children. Another problem, according to Lal, was that stalls set up by local artisans were now frequently dismantled and once busy sales spots for artists, including popular areas along the Clifton seafront and Manora, had been closed off in recent years. 'They no longer allow us to set up stalls there so what can we do?' the artist asked. 'That's why we want to stop this work. If you've seen the stalls at Clifton's Sea View, those have also been shut down.' Despite these challenges, shopkeepers like Gul Sher Abbasi acknowledge Lal's dedication and craftsmanship. 'These items mostly come from Babu,' Abbasi told Arab News. 'Then, there are different people who manufacture and we get them as well.' 'Handcrafted items are something different,' he added. 'The things that are made by hand are special. There is a different pleasure in preparing those things.' Abbasi said the seashells' craft held potential beyond Pakistan's borders and with the right support, Lal's handmade items could find buyers in Gulf countries like Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. Meanwhile, Lal said his art extended across religious lines, with orders coming in for Christian, Hindu and Muslim communities alike. 'We work for everyone, and we also make things based on specific orders,' he said. 'If someone orders us to make an idol, we make it. If someone orders a cross, we make it.'
