What’s inside the Kaaba and what covers it? The story of the Kiswah
The Kaaba, located in Mecca, is Islam's holiest site and is central to the Hajj pilgrimage. It is draped in the Kiswah, a black silk cloth embroidered with gold and silver thread. The Kaaba's interior is modest, featuring a gold door and marble finishes, and it is traditionally opened for ceremonial washing twice a year.
- ▪The Kaaba measures 13.1m high, 12.8m long, and 11.03m wide.
- ▪The Kiswah is made of 670kg of silk and embroidered with 200kg of gold and silver thread.
- ▪Muslims face the Kaaba during their five daily prayers, unifying over a billion people worldwide.
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EXPLAINERFeatures|ReligionWhat’s inside the Kaaba and what covers it? The story of the KiswahAt the heart of Hajj stands the Kaaba, draped in 670kg of silk and embroidered with 200kg of gold and silver thread.ListenListen (10 mins)SaveClick here to share on social mediashare-nodesSharefacebookxwhatsapp-strokecopylinkgoogleAdd Al Jazeera on GoogleinfoSaudi workers embroider Islamic calligraphy using either pure silver threads or silver threads plated with gold, at the Kiswa factory in Mecca, Wednesday, July 6, 2022 [Amr Nabil/AP Photo]By Alma Milisic and AJLabsPublished On 25 May 202625 May 2026The first day of Hajj has begun, with more than 1.5 million Muslims from around the world making the annual pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia – a once-in-a-lifetime journey for many.As part of the…
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