Mina, June (پاکستان پوائنٹ نیوز 04 يونيو 2025ء) Quran verses, woven in threads of gold and silver across the Kaaba's pure silk fabric, are beautifully rendered in the bold Thuluth script. This particular script was chosen for its connotations of dignity and discipline, aligning with the sanctity of the place and the profound significance of the ritual, creating a visual embodiment of Arabic calligraphy's aesthetics.
Calligrapher Abdulrahman Al-Maliki, from the King Abdulaziz Complex for the Holy Kaaba Kiswa, said to the Saudi Press Agency the choice of Thuluth script extends beyond mere decoration; it is specifically chosen to encapsulate the largest possible number of words within a narrow space, mirroring the density of crowds circumambulating the Kaaba.
The Thuluth script is brought to life on the Kiswa through special craftsmanship executed with mastery by Saudi hands. Behind every thread, stitch, and piece of silver and gold, 159 Saudis, including weavers and embroiderers, participate in a disciplined, beehive-like work environment. This work is meticulous, measured down to the millimeter, and executed with exemplary mastery. The King Abdulaziz Complex for the Holy Kaaba Kiswa assiduously oversees the crafting stages of this exceptional garment. It is made from the finest pure natural silk imported from Italy, dyed a deep black, and then embroidered with gold-plated silver threads sourced from Germany, considered among the finest materials globally. The lining comprises approximately 7,400 carefully woven threads, showcasing visual complexity and artistic precision, all serving a sublime religious value.
The Kaaba's door curtain stands as a visual and spiritual crown, with the finest gold details meticulously woven into it. Select words and hymns are embroidered in Arabic, such as "Glory and Praise be to Allah."
The gilded decorations are divided between calligraphy and ornamentation and are encircled by the embroidered belt that wraps around the Kaaba from above. Below this, "candelabras" hang as markers for circumambulation.
The complex's work also extends to crafting the Kaaba's inner curtain and the curtain of the Prophet's Chamber within a production system where industrial precision meets holiness.
Each season, the Kiswa demonstrates its strength and splendor under the sun, wind, and rain of Makkah. This resilience is attributed not only to its purposeful design but also to its exceptional materials: luxurious threads of silk, gold, and silver, which make the garment a masterpiece as durable as it is majestic. The annual cost of the Kiswa, SAR25 million, is borne by the state, represented by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. It is replaced once a year after the Hajj season, as part of administrative and spiritual rituals built upon over 100 years of direct Saudi supervision.
The Kiswa of the Kaaba remains an unspoken message, annually sent by the Kingdom to the Islamic world, affirming that caring for the Kaaba is not a mere formality, but a profound matter of belief, identity, and an enduring commitment that only strengthens with time.
