* As Saudi, Nigerian Muslims search for Muharram crescent today
The Holy Ka’abah will be adorned with a new kiswa (cover) on Muharram 1, 1446, equivalent to Saturday, July 6, subject to sighting of the new crescent after sunset today, Friday July 6, equivalent to 29th Dhul-Hijjah, 1445 AH.
Muslim News gathered that the kiswa, which is worth over 20 million riyals (about N8 billion) will be replaced by 159 technicians and craftsmen during the annual customary tradition holding on the first day of the new year in the Islamic calendar.
The Nigerian Sultanate Council and the Saudi Royal Court have therefore called on the Muslim Ummah to commence search for the new moon of Muharram from today, Friday July 6, 2024, which is equivalent to 29th Dhul-Hijjah 1445 AH.
The two paragraphs statement issued by the chairman Sultanate Council Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs, Professor Sambo Wali Junaidu, read thus: “This is to inform the Muslim Ummah that today, Friday 6th July 2024 which is equivalent to 29th day of Dhul-Hijjah 1445 AH shall be the day to look for the new moon of Muharram 1446 AH.
“Muslims are therefore requested to start search for the new moon of Muharram 1446 on Friday and report its sighting to the nearest village or district head for onward communication to His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar CFR, mni the Sultan of Sokoto.”
Kiswah ceremony
The old kiswah will be removed and replaced by a new one, which consists of four separate sides and a door curtain. Each of the four sides will be raised separately to the top of the Kaaba in preparation for its unfolding over the old side. The new kiswa will be fixed from above by tying it down, and the ropes of the old side will then be loosened.
By moving the new side up and down in a permanent movement, then the old side fell from below and the new side remained, and the process was repeated four times for each side until the cover was completed, then the belt was weighed in a straight line to the four sides by stitching it.
Over 200 qualified and specialized Saudi craftsmen and administrators worked to manufacture the new kiswa at the King Abdulaziz Complex for Holy Kaaba Kiswa, located in Umm Al-Jud neighborhood of Makkah. These employees exerted tireless efforts to complete the numerous stages of manufacturing of the kiswa.
These stages mainly include: the embroidery of the Kaaba’s belt, weaving the fabric by hand and machine, printing, draping, and coloring. The complex has departments for dyeing and automatic weaving, hand-weaving, printing, belts, gold-plating, and sewing and assembling.
The sewing and assembling department includes the largest sewing machine in the world, which is 16 meters long and runs on a computer system. Supporting departments include the laboratory, administrative services, quality control, public relations, and health and safety for workers.
The kiswa requires about 1,000 kilograms of raw silk, dyed black at the complex, 120 kilograms of gold wire, and 100 kilograms of silver wire. The kiswa consists of four pieces of cloth, each piece covering one side of the Kaaba, and the 5th piece is the curtain that is placed on the door of the Holy Kaaba.
Prior to the annual customary changing of kiswa, the handing over ceremony was held last month. On behalf of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman, Deputy Emir of Makkah and Deputy Chairman of the Central Hajj Committee Prince Saud bin Mishal handed over the kiswa of to its deputy senior keeper Abdul Malik Al-Shaibi on June 18.
The height of kiswa is 14 meters, and in the upper third of it there is a belt with 95 centimeters wide and 47 meters long, consisting of 16 pieces surrounded by a square of Islamic decoration.
– Additional information from Saudi Gazette
