Changed to Ghilaf-e-Ka’bah which became Kiswah on 1 day 1446 AD. The month of Muharram marks the beginning of the Islamic year.
The occasion was to remove the old Ghilaf-e-Ka’bah (Kiswah) and replace it with a new one.
The annual ceremony of replacing the Kiswah, the sacred cloth covering the Kaaba, was held on the 1st of Muharram 1446.
This honorable tradition, which originated during the Hajj on the Day of Arafat, has changed in the schedule.
The Kiswah, a black silk cloth with an intricate and beautiful pattern decorated with verses of the Qur’an in gold thread, is a symbol of the sacredness of the Kaaba.
Instead it is a carefully planned event that shows reverence and respect for Islam’s holiest site, the Kaaba.
In previous years, this event was held on Arafah, the ninth day of Dhul Hijjah, which coincides with the peak of Hajj.
This time is symbolic and has been compared to the day when millions of pilgrims gathered on the Plain of Arafat for prayer and meditation.
However, the new amendment moved the ceremony to the 1st of Muharram, the first day of the Islamic New Year.
This change allows the event to stand alone, providing a focused and dignified ceremony, freed from the logistical difficulties of the pilgrimage.
It also coincides with the renewal of Kiswan and the beginning of the Islamic calendar year, marking a new beginning.
The Kiswah conversion process involves a team dedicated to the production of Kiswah from the Kaaba from the King Abdulaziz Complex.
This Mecca-based facility is responsible for the complex task of making Kiswah, which requires months of preparation and skill.
The fabric is woven, dyed and embroidered using 670 kilograms of pure silk and 120 kilograms of gold and silver thread.
On Tabara Day, the old Kiswah is carefully removed and replaced with a new one.
The process takes hours and involves precision and respect.
The old Kiswah is then divided into pieces and distributed as gifts to dignitaries and religious organizations around the world, continuing the legacy of the sacred fabric.
Saudi Arabian government officials, religious leaders and representatives from various Muslim countries participated in the event.
It is a moment of deep spiritual significance that marks the continuity of tradition and unwavering respect for the Kaaba.
