4 days ago
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.
