Ahead Of Hajj 1446 Hijri Season, The Cover Of The Kaaba Is Increased

JAKARTA - The General Authority for the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque in Saudi Arabia has raised the bottom of the Kiswah (black cover cloth) of the Kaaba up to three meters on Wednesday, ahead of the Hajj season 1446 Hijri.

This annual activity was carried out by carefully lifting the bottom of Kiswah, separating its corners and securing it at a height of three meters, according to Gulf News from SPA May 16.

The two-meter-wide white cotton cloth is then wrapped around the part that is open on all four sides. The lights surrounding the Kaaba were also returned to a predetermined position after the process.

This tradition, which is carried out by a highly trained technical team, is designed to protect Kiswah from damage or handling during the peak days of the hajj, when the congregation performs tawaf, surrounding the Kaaba. This procedure is carried out by adhering to strict safety standards and respecting the disgrace of the place.

Quoted from Arab News, Kiswah has a long history. Every year, Kiswah is replaced when the pilgrims shift to Arafah to carry out wukuf.

The color of the cover of the Kaaba itself changes. The Prophet Muhammad SAW covered it with a white and red-lined Yemeni cloth. Meanwhile, during the time of the Caliph Abu Bakar Al-Siddiq, Umar bin Al-Khattab and Utsman bin Affan covered it with a white cloth. Meanwhile, Ibb Al-Zubayr covered it with a red brocade.

During the Abbasid era, the Kaaba was covered with a white cloth and once again with a red cloth. Meanwhile, Sultan Seljuk covered it with a yellow brocade.

Khalifah Abbasiyah Al-Nassir changed Kiswah's color to green and later became a black brogate, and this color has remained until now.

"The Kaaba has been covered with white, red, and black, and its color choice is based on financial capacity in every era," Makkah Historical Center Director Dr. Fawaz Al-Dahas told Arab News.

The Qbati cloth was brought from Egypt and is one of the best types of cloth used to cover the Kaaba. The Yemenn Kiswah was also the most quality and most famous cloth at the time.

Regarding why the color changes over time, Dr. Al-Dahas says white is the lightest color, but it doesn't last long. White is often torn, dirty and impure when touched by pilgrims. Because it is impractical or long-lasting, this cloth is replaced with black-and-white brocades and shimla, which are used to cover Arab tents.

"Different financial ability affects the type of cloth used for Kiswah Ka'bah," explained Dr. Al-Dahas.

He noted the way humans view Kiswah to evolve after that, and replaced with a red brocade and Egyptian qubati cloth. In addition, antaa, which is a token of the skin, or musouh, a collection of rough clothes, will be added to it.

"Kiswah used to be replaced from time to time whenever the cloth was available. This has happened in the era of Rashidun, Umayyah, and Abbasids," he said.

Black was finally chosen at the end of the Abbasid era because it lasted a long time and was able to hold back the touch of visitors, pilgrims and people from various cultures around the world.

History books tell the story of the first person to cover up the Kaaba during the pre-Islamic period,uring Al-Humairi, the king of Yemen. They said he covered up the Kaaba during the pre-Islamic period after he visited Mecca and entered it obediently.