MAKKAH: The Kaaba holds a special place in the hearts of Muslims across the world as they pray in its direction five times daily.
Hence, the Kiswah, the black cloth which covers the Kaaba, has some significance and has seen pilgrims seeking to buy a piece of the cloth, which is said to bring luck and prosperity.
The Kiswah is usually replaced on the 9th day of Zulhijah (the final month in the Islamic calendar, which is also the Haj season).
A quarter length of the used Kiswah cloth is said to fetch thousands of ringgit and talk is that the price can go up to millions of ringgit if it is verified as genuine by officials.
There are claims that the Kiswah is being sold at a complex near the holy mosque.
However, this has been denied by Kaaba Kiswah Manufacturing King Abdulaziz Complex assistant general manager Hisyam Sulaiman Ala’uddin.
He said, following its removal, the used Kiswah would be stored by the Saudi Arabian government with proper documentation after which it was likely to be sold.
He said there had been occasions when a part of the Kiswah cloth had been exhibited before being given to a specific family, like the Al-Shaiba family a long time ago.
Hisyam urged pilgrims to exercise caution and avoid being cheated.
He said it cost 20 million (RM22.3 million) to 25 million Saudi Arabian riyal (SAR) and took eight to 11 months to produce a Kiswah.
Bernama met Hisyam with 20 Malaysian guests under the 2019 Saudi King’s guests Haj programme during a visit to the complex on Thursday.
Guests were briefed on the process of making the Kiswah, the materials used, as well its history.
Guests also viewed an exhibition on the architecture of the two Holy Mosques (Masjidil Haram and Masjid Nabawai), which featured manuscripts, artefacts, architectural models and rare photos. - Bernama