MAKKAH, 1 February 2004 — The Holy Kaaba, revered by Muslims all over the world as the first House of God, was decorated yesterday by an SR20 million silk cover at the culmination of the annual pilgrimage.
The new black cloth, known as the Kiswa, was placed on top of the Kaaba, at the center of the Grand Mosque, as some two million faithful converged on nearby Mount Arafat in the climax of pilgrimage.
The Kiswa is 14 meters (42 feet) high, to match the height of the Kaaba, and 47 meters (141 feet) wide, enough to cover the four sides of the Kaaba, which are not identical in dimension.
Its upper half is decorated with a 95-centimeter (three-foot) wide strip featuring verses from the Holy Qur’an, inscribed in gold plated silver thread, which weigh 120 kilograms (264 pounds). The Kiswa is made of five pieces. The fifth piece the curtain of its door.
Nearly 650 kilograms (1,400 pounds) of natural silk was required to make the Kiswa. The silk is imported, but the Kiswa was designed and tailored by more than 200 Saudi employees at a special factory set up by the Kingdom some 30 years ago.
The total cost of the Kiswa is estimated at SR20 million (around $5.4 million), funded by the Saudi government. In the past, the Kiswa used to be sent by different Muslim countries.
Every year, pieces of the old Kiswa are presented as gifts to Muslim countries and senior Muslim personalities.
Muslims believe the Kaaba is the first building on earth and that it was originally constructed by Prophet Adam (peace be upon him).
During prayer, all Muslims face toward the Kaaba. Pilgrims and visitors of the Grand Mosque normally greet the Kaaba by walking around it seven times. Pilgrims circumambulate the Kaaba on arrival and before departure.
