Latest news with #Kiswah
Gulf Insider
26-06-2025
- General
- Gulf Insider
Photos: Saudi Arabia Replaces Kaaba Kiswa As Hijri Year 1447 Begins
Saudi Arabia People & Culture The General Presidency for the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque held the ceremonial changing of the Kiswa, the black silk covering of the Holy Kaaba Thursday, in observance of the start of the Islamic year 1447 AH. The Kiswah replacement at Masjid Al Haram 17 minutes ago 1 hour ago 1 hour ago
Leaders
01-06-2025
- Leaders
Hajj Sacred Journey: A Rare Glimpse Inside Kaaba
Muslims across the globe are gearing up for their most sacred journey, the Hajj pilgrimage, one of the five pillars of Islam. Kaaba, the holiest site in Islam, lies at the center of Hajj rituals. The Kaaba is a cube-shaped building located at the center of Al-Masjid Al-Haram (the Great Mosque) in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. The Holy Kaaba is covered with a black silk cloth (Kiswah), adorned with silk, gold, and silver embroidery. Although millions of Muslims perform Hajj and Umrah pilgrimage each year, only few people are allowed to enter the Kaaba. These include high-ranking Muslim dignitaries, prominent clerics and scholars, as well as special guests. In this article, we will explore the interior of the Kaaba, offering a privileged glimpse into the aesthetic richness of its details. Kaaba Significance in Islam The Kaaba is the center of worship (Qibla) for Muslims all over the world. During their prayers, Muslims face the direction of the Kaaba. The Kaaba also has a great significance in the spiritual journey of Hajj. Pilgrims travel to Makkah during the first ten days of Dhu'al-Hijjah, the final month of the Islamic calendar. They undertake a set of rituals performed by Prophet Mohammed PBUH centuries ago. Hajj rituals can be traced back to the time of Prophets Ibrahim and Ismael. @alhmoo70 تعرف على ما بداخل الكعبة المشرفة #الكعبه_المشرفه🕋 ♬ الصوت الأصلي – د محمود حمو Upon arriving in Makkah, pilgrims circumambulate the Kaaba seven times in an anti-clockwise direction for the arrival Tawaf. They perform another Tawaf, Farewell Tawaf (Tawaf Al-Wadaa). During this rite, they circumambulate the Kaaba seven times right before leaving Makkah in the last ritual of Hajj. Hajj lasts four to six days depending on the pilgrim's speed. This year, the sacred journey is expected to take place from June 4-9, 2025, depending on the sighting of the moon. Inside Kaaba The Kaaba interior spans an area of about 180 square meters. It has three wooden pillars holding its roof, built by Prophet's companion, Abdullah bin Zubair, each with a height of 9 meters. The wooden pillars have a dark brown color; each has a perimeter of about 150 centimeters and a diameter of 44 centimeters. To the right of this area lies Bab al-Tawbah (The Door of Repentance), which has a staircase leading to the roof. Bab al-Tawbah door is made from pure gold, while the staircase consists of 50 steps made from aluminum and crystal. Kaaba Lanterns A number of lanterns and incense burners hang from the ceiling. Those lanterns, which were gifts from rulers and wealthy benefactors over the ages, are made from copper, silver, and glass. They are adorned with Quranic verses and some of them carry the names of rulers who gifted them. There is also a dark-colored marble spot, where Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) used to pray inside the Kaaba. The wooden pillars area also contains a large box for storing the Kaaba perfuming materials. It includes Oud and Taif Rose oils as well as silver incense burners. These items are used to perfume and incense the interior of the Kaaba after its washing with Zamzam and rose waters. Marble Walls The internal floor of the Kaaba is covered with white marble, with a strip of black marble bordering it. Meanwhile, the walls are covered with rose-colored marble stones. They are constructed in a way that ensures they do not come into contact with the Kaaba's original walls. A large green cloth covers the upper part of the wall, extending 5 meters up to the ceiling. It is adorned with a white inscription of the Islamic Shahada (the Islamic declaration of faith: There is no God but Allah, Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah). Decorative Stones The interior of the Kaaba is adorned with eight decorative stones carrying scripts in Thuluth Arabic calligraphy and one stone carrying Kufic script. They all date back to after the sixth century AH. The inscriptions on these stones, which use precious and colorful pieces of marble, commemorate the architectural contributions of Saudi Arabia's past rulers to Islam's holiest site. Moreover, the eastern wall carries a document commemorating King Fahd bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud's renovations and expansion of the Kaaba. Short link : Post Views: 7
Saudi Gazette
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Saudi Gazette
Islamic Arts Biennale 2025 closes in Jeddah, cements role as global cultural platform
Saudi Gazette report JEDDAH — The second edition of the Islamic Arts Biennale, titled And All That Is In Between, concluded on May 25, 2025, after a four-month run at the Western Hajj Terminal of King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, affirming its position as a leading global platform for Islamic arts. Organized by the Diriyah Biennale Foundation, the Biennale brought together over 500 historical and contemporary works across five exhibition halls and expansive outdoor spaces spanning more than 100,000 square meters. With participation from 30 international institutions representing 21 countries, and featuring 29 new commissions, the event offered a rich exploration of Islamic culture through faith, time, and material heritage. One of the most notable highlights was the first-ever public display outside Makkah of the complete Kiswah, the cloth that covers the Holy Kaaba, shown alongside rare sacred artifacts from Makkah and Madinah. The contemporary section, curated by Muhannad Shono, included standout works such as the AlMusalla Prize–winning structure by EAST Architecture Studio, made from palm fiber and partially featured in Venice as part of the Rooted Transience Biennale's closing symposium was marked by the announcement of several forward-looking initiatives by Rakan Altouq, Vice Chairman of the Diriyah Biennale Foundation and Assistant Minister of Culture. These include grants for joint research, a digitization platform to archive the exhibition's works, and international conferences aimed at expanding knowledge-sharing on Islamic Biennale also had a significant community and educational impact, with over 23,110 students visiting and more than 15,000 participants engaging in 446 public programs, including guided tours, symposia, and hands-on workshops. Notable cultural initiatives included Turuq, a culinary and cultural exploration of movement and trade, and MADE., a design forum connecting global creatives with Islamic Al-Bakree, CEO of the Diriyah Biennale Foundation, praised the collaborative spirit behind the Biennale's success. 'The second edition of the Islamic Arts Biennale has surpassed expectations in its scale and impact. We are proud to have welcomed a broad and diverse audience, from local schoolchildren to international scholars.'
The National
26-02-2025
- The National
Saudi Arabia's Islamic Arts Biennale: A celebration of faith and culture
Lifestyle Travel Hundreds of religious objects are on display side by side with contemporary art pieces at the cultural event The world's only biennale dedicated to the arts of Islamic civilisation is taking place in Jeddah, with hundreds of striking artworks and artefacts on display at Saudi Arabia 's second Islamic Arts Biennale. The event is running until May 25 at the Western Hajj Terminal of King Abdulaziz International Airport. It's a significant location as the city, which is known as the gateway to Makkah, the birthplace of Islam, has been welcoming Muslim pilgrims for centuries. While more than 600,000 visitors attended the inaugural event in 2023, this iteration promises to be even bigger, with more than 500 pieces, both historical and contemporary, being showcased. This includes a Kiswah, the drape used to cover the Kaaba, the sacred stone building at the centre of Islam's most important mosque, the Grand Mosque in Makkah. This marks the first time one has been displayed in its entirety outside of Makkah. There are also works by the first recorded photographer to capture images of Makkah and the biennale will present the first documentary on the Hajj. Striking contemporary site-specific commissions by some of the genre's leading modern artists are also dotted around the vast site, which comprises various galleries and outdoor spaces across 10 hectares. This event, which has fast become a must-attend on the global art schedule, celebrates artistic creation as an act of devotion, while offering an overview of Islam's cultural influence. This page was produced by The National in partnership with Saudi Tourism Authority.
Leaders
14-02-2025
- Business
- Leaders
KACST Grants 2 Licenses for Modular Construction, Carbon Nanotube Commercialization
The King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) announced, as part of the Public Investment Fund and Private Sector Forum, the granting of two technology licenses to Al-Seif Engineers & Contractors for the commercialization of modular construction technologies and carbon nanotube technologies. Granting these technology licenses aligns with KACST's role as a national lab and innovation hub, turning R&D projects into marketable products, boosting innovation, expanding deep tech applications, advancing technologies. This also enhances local content to add value to national industries. The technology licenses for the 'Modular Construction Technologies' and 'Carbon Nanotube Technologies' projects support the Kingdom's Vision goals for the development of the construction sector through innovations in building materials, advanced construction technologies such as robotics and automation systems, and green buildings, which aim to improve efficiency, quality, and sustainability in research support. Related Topics : KACST Signs Promising Partnerships with Prestigious Mining Entities KAUST Drives Groundbreaking Research on Decarbonizing Cement Production SEC, KAUST Launch Pioneering Carbon Capture Research Project at Rabigh Aramco Partners with Gulf Cryo to Test Lower-Carbon Hydrogen Technologies Corporate Climate Watchdog Document Deems Carbon Offsets Largely Ineffective- Reuters Take a Look: First Public Display of Holy Kaaba's Kiswah outside Mecca Short link : Post Views: 23 Related Stories
