ISLAMABAD (PEN) : In a time-honored ritual, the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque completed the ceremonial replacement of the Kiswa, the black silk covering of the Holy Kaaba, marking the start of the Islamic year 1447 AH.
The new Kiswa, carefully woven over nearly 11 months at the King Abdulaziz Complex for Holy Kaaba Kiswah located in Mecca’s Umm Al Joud district, was installed in the early hours of Muharram 1, coinciding with the beginning of the Hijri New Year.
This sacred process began on the afternoon of the 29th of Dhu Al Hijjah, immediately after the Asr prayer, with the meticulous removal of the old Kiswa. A skilled team of artisans and technicians from the complex oversaw every step of the replacement to ensure precision and reverence.
The 2025 Kiswa consists of 47 intricately woven pieces of black silk, adorned with 68 Quranic verses embroidered in silver threads plated with 24-karat gold. Weighing approximately 1,415 kilograms, this exquisite covering is a testament to Islamic artistry and devotion.
The annual changing of the Kiswa is deeply symbolic, representing renewal and reverence as Muslims worldwide observe the Islamic calendar’s new beginning. This ceremony underscores the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s enduring dedication to preserving the sacred traditions and rituals of Islam.
