Kaaba ‘Kiswa’, the Meeting Point of Art and Faith

Name: Kaaba ‘Kiswa’, the Meeting Point of Art and Faith
Uploaded: 2022-08-01T03:48:10Z
Duration: 20 min 32 s
Description: To produce the kiswah, each year, the institution spends 25 million riyals (around US$6.75 million). The funds are partly used to purchase 760 kilograms of silk from Italy, as well as 120 kg of gold and 100 kg of silver.

To produce the kiswah, each year, the institution spends 25 million riyals (around US$6.75 million). The funds are partly used to purchase 760 kilograms of silk from Italy, as well as 120 kg of gold and 100 kg of silver.

ILHAM KHOIRI

· 5 minutes read

The kiswah, or the cloth that covers the Kaaba at the Grand Mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, was replaced on Saturday to mark the beginning of the new Islamic year.

In addition to marking the change of time, the replacement of the kiswah also described the time when artistic expression met sincerity of faith.

Toward 1 Muharram 1444 Hijri, or on Saturday (30/7/2022), the appearance of the Kaaba changed. On Friday night, supported by hydraulic ladders, a number of workers climbed to the top of the ancient building. Arriving at the top, they removed the kiswah that had been attached for this year.

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At the same time, other workers arrived with a new kiswah. They raised the new cloth to cover the Kaaba. All processes were carried carefully so that they were busy all night long installing the new kiswah. In fact, until Saturday morning, a number of workers were still tidying up the new kiswah. They made sure the entire cloth, which is decorated with Arabic calligraphy, was attached properly and straight.

Some of them captured the moment with their gadgets. Soldiers or security guards were stationed in several corners.

The rare sight was broadcast live on Youtube. Pilgrims who were conducting tawaf around the Kaaba also had the opportunity to see it firsthand. Some of them captured the moment with their gadgets. Soldiers or security guards were stationed in several corners.

“This year, the kiswah of the Kaaba was replaced on 1 Muharam, not on 9 Zulhijah as usual [when the pilgrims conduct wukuf during the annual haj season],” said Faris al-Mathrafi, the deputy director of Majma al-Malik Abdul Aziz li Kiswah al-Kabah al-Musyarrafah (the institution that handles the making of Kaaba kiswah) in Mecca, on Wednesday (27/7).

That Wednesday, the Haj Media Center (MCH), together with the director general of Haj and Umrah at the Indonesian Religious Affairs, Hilman Latief, and the consul for Haj at the Indonesian Consulate General in Jeddah, Nasrullah Jassam, had the opportunity to visit the kiswah-making institution.

In that place, a whole kiswah made in 1411 Hijriah is displayed. In several other rooms, there are collections of examples of kiswah pieces produced in the past years.

"This is an old tradition that has been preserved until now as a form of respect for the Baitullah [house of God]," said Ahmad Musaid Asuhairi, the head of Relations and Communications at the institution.

The making of ‘kiswah’

How to make the kiswah? Firstly, black silk cloth is prepared as the base of the kiswah. The calligraphers then make ornamentation patterns and Arabic script, which are then printed on the cloth.

According to the pattern, it is embroidered with gold and silver threads. There are 220 calligraphers who work throughout the year to make one kiswah to be installed the following year.

Call it, among others, the verse about the recommendation to hasten to worship, Surah Al-Ikhlas, Ayat Kursi, Surah Al-Fatihah and Asmaul Husna (the names of God).

A senior calligrapher, Sheikh Mukhtar Alam, explained that the most complicated part in the making of the kiswah is the curtain for the door of the Kaaba. The area of 3.3 meters by 6.3 m is filled with verses from the Quran, hadith and ornamentation in various sizes and shapes. Call it, among others, the verse about the recommendation to hasten to worship, Surah Al-Ikhlas, Ayat Kursi, Surah Al-Fatihah and Asmaul Husna (the names of God).

All of this is written in the classic tsulus style that has been well known since the 3rd century Hijri. Each anatomical Arabic letter is shaped with a standard thick-thin standard, but the curve of the edges can be manipulated flexibly. “Khattulus is one of the most beautiful writings in the history of Arabic calligraphy. This khat allows calligraphers to be creative according to the size of the kiswah," said Mukhtar.

Of all the processes, embroidering Arabic khat requires more perseverance and the longest time. Guests at Majma li Kiswah al-Kabah can see an example. There is a piece of silk cloth decorated with machine-embroidered patterns. A calligrapher, Muthif Zahrani, then filled and perfected the embroidery manually.

He carried a spool of gold thread in his right hand. The hand was on the black cloth. His left hand was under the cloth, to pierce the black silk with gold thread from below. The right hand pulled the needle with the gold thread so that it tied firmly. Everything was carried out slowly so that the embroidery matched the pattern.

“We studied Arabic calligraphy at the madrasa. Before starting to work here, all of us also attended special training,” said Muthif.

The cloth is installed for a full year and only replaced the following new year.

With the discipline of a year’s work, the calligraphers try to present a beautiful work of Arabic calligraphy as the cover of the Kaaba. The cloth is installed for a full year and only replaced the following new year. Looking at this work of art, I remember a hadith that says, Inna Allah jamilun yuhibbu al-jamal (indeed God is beautiful and loves beauty).

(This article was translated by Hendarsyah Tarmizi)

Editor:

NASRULLAH NARA

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