About 150 craftsmen complete months long production of the sacred covering featuring Qur’anic verses in gold and silver embroidery

By Sadiq Abdulfatah

At the beginning of the new Hijri year, the Holy Kaaba in Masjid al-Haram was covered with its new kiswa, marking one of the most significant annual rituals at Islam’s holiest site.

The replacement reflects the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s continued care for the Kaaba and its expertise in Islamic craftsmanship. The process was completed at the King Abdulaziz Complex for the Holy Kaaba Kiswa in Makkah, according to the Saudi Press Agency.

About 150 Saudi craftsmen worked for 11 months to produce the new covering, which consists of 47 pieces of black silk embroidered with 30 Qur’anic verses using silver threads plated with 24-karat gold. The kiswa weighs about 1,410 kilograms.

The installation included the fitting of the embroidered curtain, the hizam (belt), decorative samadiah elements, lantern-shaped ornaments, and embellishments around the mizab (rainwater spout), corners, and other parts of the Kaaba.

Although it appears as a single piece, the kiswa is carefully constructed through a detailed process involving multiple layers and types of fabric, each serving a specific structural and decorative purpose.

Its outer layer is made of black silk, while embossed silk is used for inscriptions and motifs. Inside, cotton fabrics provide strength and durability, with additional silk layers in red, green, and embossed green used for specific decorative sections, including areas around the Kaaba’s door.

Together, these materials are combined through a highly precise production process that reflects centuries of Islamic artistic tradition and craftsmanship.

Source: Arab News