“Kiswah” The cloth draping the Kaaba

Team BookMyUmrahTrip
Draped over the cubic heart of Islam, the Kiswah is a sacred symbol seen by millions. And its profound story is known by fewer. Embroidered with verses, this black cloth is proof of centuries-old tradition, unmatched craftsmanship, and faith.
This black drape is more than just a cloth. It shows a deep expression of respect and dedication. This visual symbol of faith gets renewed every year in a ritual that shows the unity and continuity of the Muslim community.
Here in this blog, let's learn together about the cloth woven with piety and tradition and some more interesting facts and the availability of this beautiful covering, the Kiswah.
The Kiswah Cloth's History and Craftsmanship
It is a century-old tradition at the Kaaba. In the pre-Islamic era, Tabu Karab Aswad the king of Hummayur in Yemen was the first person to cover the holy shrine, Kaaba. After the conquest of Macca, our prophet (S.A.W.) kept the old one as it was. He didn’t replace it until a woman burnt the old one during scenting with an incense. It was then covered with a Yemeni cloth.
Color of Kiswah
The Kiswah was originally draped with the red and white colored strips of cloth.
The Seljuk Sultan covered it with yellow brocade.
The "Al-Nasir" caliph of the Abbasid empire (750 CE to 1258 CE) changed the color of the Kiswah to green.
Later on the color of the Kiswah changed to black brocade and has remained its color to the present day.
The modern Kiswah is made of high-quality black silk that has been embroidered with gold and silver threads and has lines from the Quran written in beautiful Thuluth calligraphy.
The King Abdulaziz Complex for Kiswah in Mecca is a special place where trained artists carefully hand-embroider this work. Each stitch is done with great care and respect.
How is the Kiswah made and used?
The Kiswah fabric is not a single piece of fabric. It is made up
Drapery (Kiswah): It is a black cloth. It is used to wrap the walls of the holy Kaaba.


