Kaaba is home to more than a billion Muslim pilgrims worldwide. Each year a plethora of people visit the holy city to perform the sacred ritual. Its majestic structure and powerful color attract countless individuals. The Kiswa Factory which creates the Kaaba cover (Kiswa) is located in the heart of Makkah city. This blog will take you on a virtual tour of the Kiswa Factory, highlighting the step-by-step process of creating the sacred cloth that drapes the House of God. Pilgrims who wish to perform Umrah can book All-inclusive Umrah Packages to have a hassle-free trip, having ample time to fulfill all the rituals. 

An Inside View into Kiswa Factory

In May 2017 King Salman changed the name of the factory from Kiswa Factory to King Abdul-Aziz Complex for Holy Kaaba Kiswa. This event ensured that the Saudi government took extreme care to create the Kaaba cover. Let’s take a step-by-step tour into the making of the Kiswa.

Material Selection

The material of the finest quality is selected by the craftsmen to weave the cloth.

• Silk: Silk is used for its luster and softness. It is imported from Italy and Switzerland.
• Gold and Silver Threads: The gold and silver threads are used to sew the Kiswa. The weight of both materials varies based on design. Generally, 100 kg gold and 760 kg silk is used. A total of 54 gilded pieces are used to embellish the cover. Each piece is 14 meters long and 101 cm wide.
• Cotton: Cotton is used for the back of the Kiswa. It gives a sturdy backbone for embroidery. Also, it gives a long life to the cover.

Dyeing Process

The dyeing department receives pure natural silk. The process begins with the “sweetening” of water according to certain standards. This happens to ensure proper washing of silk. In the dyeing stage, the protective was layer is removed. The silk is colored black for the outer covering. Green is used for the inner covering of the Kiswa. On the other hand, dark red is the color of the belt of the Holy Prophet’s room. The silk is then dried in special drying rooms to prevent any damage. Various lab tests are done to check the quality of silk and the threads.

Weaving Process

After the careful coloring of Kiswa, the next step is weaving. Silk threads are converted from hanks to spools. These spools contain 9.900 threads per meter. It uses jacquard looms to design intricate patterns on the cover.

Printing Process

In this stage, pieces of plain silk and woven fabric are joined. The Quranic verses are printed using silk screen printing. A synthetic silk fabric on a wooden screen is prepared using sensitive film. This film gets hardened under sunlight, leaving open pores for printing. Special inks are used on the fabric in this stage.

Embroidery

In this stage, the designing is done by placing cotton threads over printed lines. Yellow cotton threads are used for gold embroidery and white is used for silver design. These threads form the base structure. This base is then covered with gold-plated silver wires. Three types of embroidery are done on the Kaaba cover.

• Quranic Verses: The Quranic verses are written in the Kufic script. A type of script traditionally used for Kiswa. Weaving machines use spools to create plain silk fabric for printing and sewing Quranic verses.

The written verses are sewn by hand on the Kiswa using cotton threads. For extreme precision, this step is done manually instead of by machine. These verses are knitted using a raised technique called couching, to give them a 3D look. Some common verses sewn on the cover are Surah Baqarah, Surah Maida, and Surah Imran.

• Geometric Patterns: These patterns are based on Islamic motifs; Cross stitches method is used for this type.
• Arabic Inscriptions: Kiswa may also include inscriptions like the names of the Holy Prophet and caliphs.

It takes almost 8-10 months for the embroidery process to be completed. The annual cost of knitting the cover exceeds a staggering figure of SR20 million.

Assembling

All the large pieces are joined together while keeping aligned for durability. Despite many skilled workers, this factory has the largest sewing machine to facilitate the process. The machine is over 16 meters in length with an auto control system and laser line devices.

Installation

This is the final step in the whole Kiswa process. Every year on the 9th Dhul Hajj, the old Kabba cover is replaced with the new one. The new Kiswa is washed with Zamzam water to purify it and scented with Oud. This process is the most difficult one. Long ropes are used to lift and remove the old cover. The Kiswa is replaced from each wall separately. Then the new Kiswa is draped over the Kaaba. The Kiswa ends are tied to the copper rings for firm holding. Then finally, the curtain door is installed.

Yearly Celebration

After the Kiswa-making process is finished, an annual celebration is held at the factory. This celebration happens in the middle of Dhul Hajj each year. The new Kiswa is handed to Kaaba’s caretaker in this event. The caretaker then delivers the Kaaba to the head of religious affairs at the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque. An official order was made to deliver the Kiswa on the tenth day of Dhul Hajj. The old Kiswa is given to the Keeper of the Kabba, who is a member of the Bani Shaiba family.

Tips for Visiting Kiswa Factory

If you are planning to enter the Kiswa factory in Ramadan, then it is crucial to learn about some tips.

• You must apply for an official permit to enter the Kiswa factory.
• You must be an Iqama holder or have an Umrah/Hajj visit visa.
• No less than 20 people are allowed for the visit.
• You must register yourself on Absher.
• You need to have a mobile number that is registered with Absher.
• You should have an account on the Nafath app. This app is used to access any government portal in Saudi Arabia. It provides access authorization.
• Aim for early morning or late afternoon visits to avoid the peak crowds.
• Dress modestly when visiting the factory.

History

It is reported that Tubba-Al-Humairi was the first man to cover the Kaaba in pre-Islamic times. History experts say that he covered the Kaaba with a thick cloth called Khasf and later with Maarif (named after Yemen city). After Islam, in the 9th Hijri, Prophet Muhammad covered the Kaaba with a Yemini cloth, Quabti. Over time, there has been significant change in the fabrics and colors of the Kaaba cloth. While the Holy Prophet used a white and red striped cloth, Abu Bakar and his companions covered it in white. Ibn-Al-Zubyr covered the Kaaba with red brocade.

Seljuk Sultan used yellow brocade for covering. On the other hand, Abbasid Caliph Al Nassir changed Kiswa’s color from green to white and then finally to black. Al Dahas, Director of Makkah History narrated that the choice of color depended on the finances.

In an interview, he further talked about the reason for changing so many colors over the years. White and other colors used to get torn and dirty easily. Hence, they were replaced with black color. The dark color was able to withstand the hands of countless pilgrims. A true stamp of power! Earlier the black cloth was produced in other Muslim countries like Egypt. But, in 1927, King Abdul-Aziz took the initiative to build a whole factory in Makkah. This factory will continue the legacy of knitting Kaaba covers only till the End Time.

Kaaba Importance

Kaaba was first built during ancient times by Hazrat Ibrahim and his son Ismail as per the order of God.

• Sign of Unity: It is an emblem of unity and oneness. The holy Kabba stands tall with only one motive- to worship Allah only. The God Almighty Himself has taken the responsibility to protect His house till the Doomsday.
• Race Removal: The elegant black color of the Kiswa removes the racial barriers. Its black color is an open invitation to all skin types.

Conclusion

The Kaaba is the epitome of faith for Muslims. Kiswa, the cover of the House of God, reflects the devotion of the pilgrims during Umrah or Hajj. Kiswa Factory (King Abdul-Aziz Complex) is maintaining this strong hold on the religion by producing Kaaba cover every year. From selecting the finest materials to changing the old cover, the journey of Kiswa is a spiritual one. The making of the Ghilaf and changing it represents the purification of Muslims from sins. They shed their older skins to adopt a new version of themselves. One that is clean and positive. And the experience to see this whole transformation taking place in a factory is just indescribable. If you wish to have the ultimate spiritual experience, then you can fly to Mecca on Family Umrah Packages, where you can get every facility to make the most out of your journey.