The Sacred Kiswah of the Kaaba: History, Significance, and Replacement Ceremony

Kiswah (Arabic: كسوة) is a piece of cloth that is draped over the Kaaba, a cube-shaped building in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, considered the holiest site in Islam. The kiswah is made of black silk and is embroidered with gold and other precious materials. It is replaced every year during the Hajj pilgrimage, which takes place in the month of Dhu al-Hijjah.

The kiswah is believed to have been first placed on the Kaaba by the Prophet Abraham and his son Ishmael, who built the Kaaba as a place of worship. According to Islamic tradition, the kiswah is a symbol of the unity of Muslims and represents the connection between the Kaaba and the heavens.

The current method of replacing the kiswah was established by the Saudi government in the 1920s, when the kingdom took over the administration of the holy sites in Mecca and Medina. The old kiswah is removed from the Kaaba during the Hajj pilgrimage, and a new one is placed on top of it. The ceremony is performed by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, who is responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of the holy sites.

The kiswah is considered a sacred object in Islam and is highly revered by Muslims around the world. It is often displayed in mosques and other religious institutions during special occasions, such as Eid al-Adha, which marks the end of the Hajj pilgrimage.