Millions gather in Mecca for Hajj as gold-adorned Kaaba stands at spiritual center.

At the spiritual core of the Hajj pilgrimage stands the Kaaba, a cubic structure draped in 670 kilograms of silk and adorned with 200 kilograms of gold and silver thread. This year's Hajj has already commenced, drawing more than 1.5 million Muslims from across the globe to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, for a transformative journey that many undertake only once in a lifetime. As pilgrims begin their five-day rituals, they perform the circumambulation, encircling the Kaaba counterclockwise. This sacred structure is enveloped in the Kiswah, a black cloth embroidered with Arabic verses from the Quran.

To understand the significance of this site, one must first grasp its identity. The word "Kaaba" translates to "cube" in Arabic and marks Islam's holiest location at the center of the Masjid al-Haram, or Grand Mosque, in Mecca. Muslims worldwide orient themselves toward this structure during their five daily prayers, a direction known as the qibla, which unites over a billion believers in a singular act of worship regardless of their geographic location. Physically, the Kaaba stands 13.1 meters tall, spans 12.8 meters in length, and measures 11.03 meters in width.

The history of the Kaaba is deeply rooted in faith and prophecy. Muslims hold the belief that the Prophet Abraham and his son, Ishmael, originally constructed the building as a house of worship in direct obedience to God's command. The Quran references this event multiple times, detailing how Ibrahim and Ismail raised its foundations. Prior to the advent of Islam, the site served various Arabian tribes; however, this changed when Prophet Muhammad, having migrated to Medina eight years earlier, returned to Mecca around 630 CE. He cleansed the Kaaba of its idols, restoring it to a place of monotheistic devotion. Today, Mecca annually welcomes more than 20 million pilgrims for Hajj and Umrah, a demographic that has evolved significantly throughout history.

Inside the Kaaba, the space is modest yet dignified. A gold door dominates the northeastern side, positioned more than two meters above the ground. This door contains 280 kilograms of pure gold and measures 3.1 meters in height and 1.9 meters in width. Authorities typically open this door only twice a year to ceremonially wash the interior. The interior itself features three wooden pillars supporting the roof and a staircase leading upward. Marble lines the floors and walls, while lanterns hang from the ceiling. Historically, textiles draped part of the walls in red, green, and dark blue, arranged in a distinctive zig-zag style.

The Kiswah, the black silk cloth covering the Kaaba, derives its name from the Arabic root k-s-w, meaning "to cover" or "to drape." Originally referring to any robe or covering, the term eventually became specific to this sacred garment. During the Hajj, handlers carefully lift the lower edges of the Kiswah to protect it from the intense pressure of pilgrims seeking to touch the structure. The cloth itself is 14 meters high and consists of 47 different strips. About two-thirds up the walls runs the hizam, an embroidered decorative belt approximately 95 centimeters wide and 47 meters long. Above the golden door hangs the sitara, or curtain, which serves as the most ornate section of the Kiswah.

The purpose of covering the Kaaba is clear: to protect, honor, and beautify the holiest site in Islam. While historical records do not definitively identify who first draped the Kaaba, the prevailing theory among historians suggests that this tradition predates Islam. As the Hajj season intensifies, the focus remains on how these ancient regulations and directives shape the experience of the faithful, ensuring the sanctity of the site is preserved for millions of worshippers.

Most scholars agree that King Tubba As'ad Kamil of Yemen draped the Kaaba in a special cloth around 400 CE. Some historians suggest Prophet Ismail performed this act, yet no concrete evidence supports that claim. Mensud Dulovic, a professor of Qur'anic studies at Gazi Husrev-beg Madrasa in Sarajevo, offered a measured perspective. He noted that if Ismail did cover the structure, it likely involved only a portion rather than the entire building.

The material used for the Kiswah, or covering, has changed significantly over time. Today, the cloth consists of natural silk. In earlier centuries, makers utilized linen, cotton, wool, leather, and even animal skins. These choices often depended on local availability and the preferences of Muslim rulers. Carol Bier, a research associate at The Textile Museum in Washington, DC, explained that production followed the shifting centers of the caliphate.

When Arabia led the early Islamic caliphate, the Kiswah was manufactured in Egypt. Egypt possessed a robust textile industry centered in state-run workshops known as Tiraz factories. These facilities operated under royal patronage in cities like Damietta. Once woven, the fabric traveled to Mecca in a ceremonial caravan. This journey began at the start of Dhu al-Hijjah, the twelfth month of the Islamic calendar, coinciding with the Hajj pilgrimage.

Bier described this effort as a profound act of devotion. The Kaaba remains the central physical focus for pilgrims circling the sacred site. Later, production moved to Syria under the Umayyads in Damascus. The Abbasids shifted manufacturing to Baghdad, while other periods saw work in Yemen. This tradition continued through the Ayyubid, Mamluk, and Ottoman eras before transferring to the House of Saud following the collapse of the Ottoman Empire.

Modern specifications for the Kiswah are precise and demanding. The current covering weighs approximately 670 kilograms of natural silk. Embroidery adds roughly 120 kilograms of 24-carat gold thread and between 100 and 120 kilograms of silver thread. Over 240 workers at Mecca's factory contribute to this creation. They combine modern machinery with traditional looms and Arabic calligraphy skills.

Dulovic highlighted the meticulous nature of the production process. The silk, imported from Italy, undergoes several washing stages. First, cold water and special detergents remove natural wax. Olive oil soap assists in this cleaning phase. Next, hot water at about 90 degrees Celsius restores the fabric's natural color. Finally, the silk is dyed black.

The financial cost of producing the modern Kiswah is substantial. Estimates suggest the total expense exceeds 25 million Saudi riyals, or roughly $6.65 million. While earlier versions were simpler, today's version is an elaborate masterpiece. The design features various Qur'anic verses and phrases. Some inscriptions include the Shahada, the Islamic declaration of faith. Other texts relate to the sanctity of the Kaaba and the Hajj pilgrimage.

Has the Kiswah draped upon the Kaaba always been black? Historical records suggest the textile's palette has shifted significantly over centuries, featuring shades of white, green, yellow, and black. According to expert Bier, early Kiswahs manufactured in Syria displayed red, green, yellow, and white hues, colors deeply rooted in Islamic artistic tradition. "Just think of the flags of Islamic countries today: red, yellow, green, and white," she noted, highlighting their enduring presence. During the Abbasid era, black served as a distinctive identifier for the sacred covering. Pre-Islamic versions crafted in Yemen likely featured striped patterns, reflecting the region's textile heritage. "There's some consideration that those early Kiswahs were striped red and green," Bier explained regarding these ancient fabrics. "Those were early colours of wools in particular," she added, pointing to the material origins of the designs.

The Kiswah undergoes a complete renewal annually, handled by a specialized team dedicated to removing the old fabric and installing a fresh one. Once stripped from the Kaaba, the discarded textile is returned to its place of origin. Esmir Halilovic, a professor of Islamic Studies at the University of Zenica in Bosnia and Herzegovina, described the subsequent handling. "Once there, the Kiswah 'undergoes a preservation and distribution process that takes place in several stages,'" Halilovic told Al Jazeera. The most precious segments, including those embroidered with gold or silver, Quranic verses, or decorative panels, are meticulously excised for safekeeping. Halilovic explained that these valuable pieces are often donated to museums or given to institutions that have officially requested them through Saudi authorities.

Other sections are similarly cut into smaller fragments and distributed among government officials, organizations, and foreign embassies accredited in Saudi Arabia. In addition, modest pieces without significant material value are sometimes handed to individuals present during the replacement ceremony itself. Because of this extensive distribution network, some fragments eventually find their way onto the open market. Halilovic noted that these pieces can occasionally be found for sale online, illustrating how the sacred textile permeates broader commercial spaces.