Holy Kaaba's Kiswah Takes Nine Months To Complete

From Zabidi Ishar MAKKAH, Aug 23 (Bernama) -- Come 9th Zulhijjah each year, Muslims from all over the world wait anxiously for the annual draping of the Kaaba (The Cube) at Al-Haram Grand Mosque, here, to replace its black velvet cover, otherwise known as Kiswah. However, not many are aware of how the US$5.96 million (RM24 million) Kiswah is made. A group of Malaysian media personnel covering the Haj season for Tabung Haji (the Malaysian hajj pilgrims fund board) was recently given a tour of the Kiswah-making factory here, built in 1977 by the founder of modern Saudi Arabia, King Abdul Aziz bin Abdul Rahman. The factory's general manager, Muhammad Abdullah Bajawda said the making of the Kiswah took nine months as it also showcased the fine art of embroidery of Quranic verses using the expertise of almost 100 embroiders. He said for that, they used 120 kg each of gold and silver to coat the special threads imported from Germany. "Some 670 kg of silk threads imported from Italy are used for its border. "The process starts with colour dipping before it is taken to the laboratory for the thread stretching process, to ensure that its durability meets the specification," he said via a translator. A high-technology machine is then used to create the border. Once ready, the cloth will be stamped with Quranic verses in white and yellow inks using the silk screen. Muhammad said the most important part would be the embroidery of gold and silver-plated threads for the callgraphy and the pieces of velvet would be sewn together to complete the Kiswah. This time, the Kiswah will be handed over to the Al-Haram Grand Mosque management on Sept 2 and kept until 9th Zulhijjah for the ritual of replacing the old Kiswah with the new one. It will take place after dawn. --BERNAMA