Latest news with #Kiswa
Al Arabiya
2 days ago
- General
- Al Arabiya
Raising the Kaaba's Kiswa: An annual Hajj tradition explained
Raising the Kiswa – the black cloth covering the Holy Kaaba in Mecca – is an annual tradition preceding the Hajj season that signals the start of the Muslim pilgrimage and protects the black silk and gold cloth from damage. The act involves raising the lower part of the Kiswa and covering it with white cloth, creating a barrier. The black cloth, crafted from black silk and adorned with Quranic verses, that drapes over the Kaaba, is a symbol of reverence and marks the sanctity of the holiest site in Islam. It is changed annually. Raising Kiswa during Hajj During the Hajj season, the Kiswa is traditionally raised, not as an act of worship, but for practical reasons that have evolved over time. Each era has offered its own explanation or wisdom behind this practice. Historically, lifting the Kiswa signaled the beginning of the Hajj season, alerting the faithful to the start of the sacred rituals and the arrival of pilgrims from across the globe to perform the fifth pillar of Islam. It also helped protect the Kiswa from potential damage due to the large crowds. Deeply rooted tradition Over the centuries, this act became a deeply rooted tradition, carefully upheld by Muslim rulers and authorities. Today, the Kiswa is raised well ahead of the Hajj season primarily to preserve it from wear and tear caused by the dense crowds around the Kaaba, and to prevent pilgrims or Umrah performers from cutting off pieces as keepsakes or seeking blessings. Historical sources indicate that this practice dates to the early Islamic period, when the Kiswa was lifted to make it visible to pilgrims performing circumambulation around the Kaaba.
Asharq Al-Awsat
3 days ago
- General
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Hajj Program Guests Visit Kiswa Complex, Revelation Exhibition
Guests of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques' Program for Hajj, Umrah, and Visitation toured the King Abdulaziz Complex for the Holy Kaaba Kiswa and the Revelation Exhibition at the Hira Cultural District in Makkah, as part of a program implemented and supervised by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance. Guests learned about the stages of Kiswa production, from fabric preparation to embroidery. They were also introduced to the raw materials used in the weaving process and participated in a symbolic experience of stitching a section of the new Kiswa, reported the Saudi Press Agency on Sunday. The guests also toured the diverse halls of the Revelation Exhibition, where they viewed displays narrating the stories of the prophets and highlighting the prophetic features from the life of Prophet Muhammad. The guests expressed their gratitude to the Kingdom's leadership for its great dedication to preserving the Prophet's biography and the history of Islam. The number of guests hosted under this year's program has reached 2,443 pilgrims from over 100 countries. All services are provided to the guests through an integrated system overseen by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance.
Al-Ahram Weekly
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Second Islamic Arts Biennale concludes in Jeddah - Visual Art - Arts & Culture
The second edition of the Islamic Arts Biennale, held at the Western Pilgrims Terminal of King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah (25 January - 25 May 2025), has officially closed four months after its inauguration. According to a statement issued by the cultural foundation, this second edition, under the theme And All That Is Between Them, solidified the biennale's status as a leading global platform for showcasing and promoting masterpieces of Islamic art. This year's edition showcased over 500 historic and contemporary artworks across five main galleries and multiple outdoor spaces, spanning over 100,000 square metres. More than 30 cultural and artistic institutions from 21 countries participated, and over 30 contemporary artists presented 29 new works specially commissioned by the Diriyah Biennale Foundation. The list of participating artists included many prominent names, such as Nour Jaouda, Charwei Tsai, and Fatma Abdulhadi. This demonstrates the foundation's commitment to highlighting Saudi artists on the international stage and attracting artists from around the world to the Kingdom so that the local and global public can discover the diverse perspectives of contemporary art. A highlight of the 2025 edition was the first-ever display of the Kiswa (the Kaaba's covering) outside Mecca, exhibited alongside a rare collection of Islamic objects from Mecca and Medina. The award-winning installation Al-Musalla, designed by a consortium led by East Architecture Studio, was central to the exhibition's outdoor space. Constructed using local palm frond remains, the work drew inspiration from traditional textile weaving. Large sections of the award-winning Rooted Transient project were also featured in a namesake exhibition alongside the 19th International Architecture Exhibition - Venice Biennale. The exhibition showcased the architectural piece's adaptability — its ability to be disassembled, reassembled, and reused endlessly. At the closing forum, Deputy Minister of Culture and Vice Chairman of the Board of the Jeddah Biennale Foundation Rakan Al-Touq announced the launch of several initiatives aimed at building on the biennale's strong connections with a broad network of cultural institutions through the Orbit exhibition — one of the biennale's most important sections. These initiatives will include joint research projects, developing a digital platform to archive displayed objects and artworks, and organizing conferences in Saudi Arabia and around the world in collaboration with partner institutions. The goal is to build a knowledge network that strengthens research efforts and fosters the exchange of expertise in various fields of Islamic art. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Saudi Gazette
25-05-2025
- General
- Saudi Gazette
'First House' exhibition at Grand Mosque highlights history of the Kaaba
Saudi Gazette report MAKKAH — The General Authority for the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque has launched the 'First House' exhibition during Hajj season 1446H. It will offer pilgrims and visitors a rare opportunity to explore the history of the Kaaba from the time of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham), peace be upon him, to the present day. The exhibition is located in the Third Saudi Expansion of the Grand Mosque, directly opposite Gate 100 (King Abdullah Gate), and is open daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. throughout the Hajj season. Through immersive displays and interactive technologies, the exhibition highlights key themes such as the construction of the Kaaba, the changes it has undergone across different eras, tools used in its maintenance and cleaning, the stages of manufacturing the Kiswa (cloth covering), and its architectural features. Visitors can explore visual presentations, motion graphics, historical artifacts, and digital touchscreens that provide detailed insights into the sacred structure's history and significance. The initiative is part of the Authority's broader efforts to enrich the cultural and spiritual journey of pilgrims and to deepen public understanding of the Grand Mosque's religious heritage.
Khaleej Times
20-05-2025
- General
- Khaleej Times
Gold threads, sacred verses: Watch as 42 experts raise Kiswa on Kaaba ahead of Hajj
In preparation for Hajj, the Kaaba in Makkah gets a new cloth cover every year—and 2025's Kiswa has been raised in Islam's holiest place on Earth. As part of the custom, the Kiswa is raised to a height of three metres from the bottom of the Holy Kaaba and underneath the black cover, the structure is covered with a white cotton cloth (ihraam) 2.5 meters in width and 54 metres in length. Many people still ask what is the Kiswa made of? How long does it take to raise it and what is actually written on it? The annual custom of Kiswa raising is meant to prevent damage to the Kaaba before the Hajj when millions of Muslims from all around the world flock to the city to perform Islam's most significant ritual. This year's tradition was performed on Du al-Qada 15 (May 13) after Ishaa prayer, said the Saudi General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques. It added that the process took four hours complete. Eleven cranes were used by 42 specialists to cover the Kaaba with the new cloth. What is Kiswa made of? A dedicated factory for preparing the Kiswa of the Holy Kaaba is located in Makkah itself, where the black curtain is made from silk embroidered with gold-plated threads forming Quranic verses that adorn the walls of Muslims' 'sacred house'. In the past, the Kiswa was manufactured in Egypt and used to be transferred to the kingdom in a celebratory camel convoy called 'Al Mahmal'. What is written on Kiswa? The holy Kaaba is a cubic building that has four corners and they are: Al Rukn Al Aswad (the southeast corner where the black rock (Al Hajar al Aswad) is located - Al Rukn Al Iraqi - Al Rukn Al Shami and Al Rukn Al Yamani. On each side of the structure, Quranic verses are inscribed in a specific style of Arabic calligraphy called Al Thuluth Al Jali. Among these verses, there are ones that tell the story of building the Kaaba and those calling upon Muslims to perform Hajj. In 2024, a total of 1,833,164 pilgrims performed Hajj. Of these, 1,611,310 were international pilgrims (87.9%), while 221,854 were domestic pilgrims (12.1%) from within the Kingdom, according the Saudi Authority of Statistics.
