New Marks To Help pilgrims Performing Tawaf

For the first time, the covering cloth of the holy Kaaba, also known as Kiswa, will have a new addition to indicate the starting and ending points of circumambulation — or Tawaf — around the sacred structure.

This will help pilgrims count the number of Tawaf they have performed.

The gilded four lantern shaped patches with Allah-u-Akbar (Allah is greatest) sewn in its center, were placed above the Black Stone.

This new addition is the fourth directional signage that has been assembled recently to guide the pilgrims to where circumambulation starts and ends in a bid to prevent any confusion.

Prior to this change, there used to be a brown line adjacent to the Black Stone, which was removed as it was causing congestion.

The gilded four lantern shaped patches with Allah-u-Akbar (Allah is greatest) sewn in its center, were placed above the Black Stone.

Emir of Makkah Prince Washed Holy Kaaba

This is how the Kaaba is washed

Prince Khaled and the accompanying dignitaries cleaned the inside walls of the Kaaba using cloths dipped in Zamzam water mixed with Oud perfume, which are then used to wash the interior walls .

The ceremony of cleaning the Holy Kaaba was carried out on Monday by Makkah Emir Prince Khaled Al-Faisal.

The ceremonial washing of Kaaba is held following the example of Prophet Muhammad.

Prince Khaled and the accompanying dignitaries cleaned the inside walls of the Kaaba using cloths dipped in Zamzam water mixed with Oud perfume, which are then used to wash the interior walls.

Preparations for the washing start a day before the agreed date, with the mixing of Zamzam water with Taif rose, oud and other luxurious perfumes. Towels were used to wipe the walls of the Kaaba, and after the guests leave its hall, its floor covered with washed marble, will be processed.

The interior walls were cleansed with a white cloth dipped in rose, and musk perfumes. Zamzam water mixed with rose perfume was splashed on the floor and was wiped with bare hands and palm leaves.

 The whole process was completed in two hours.

The interior walls of Kaaba are three meter long and the inner surface of the roof is covered with green silk and the key of Kaaba is 25cm long.

On behalf of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman, Emir of Makkah Prince Khaled Al-Faisal washed the Holy Kaaba with Zamzam and rose water on Monday. The Emir was received at the Grand Mosque by Sheikh Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais, chief of the Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques, and several senior officials. Participants in the washing ceremony included princes, ministers, officials, members of Islamic diplomatic corps accredited to the Kingdom, and a group of citizens

On behalf of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman, Makkah Emir Prince Khaled Al-Faisal will wash the Holy Kaaba on Monday.

Prince Khaled and the accompanying dignitaries will clean the inside walls of the Kaaba using cloths dipped in Zamzam water mixed with Oud perfume.

Those who will accompany the Emir in washing the Kaaba include General President of the Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques Sheikh Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais, ministers, Ulema, the Kaaba caretakers, members of the Islamic diplomatic corps, a number of citizens and worshippers.

Meanwhile, the Kiswa (the cloth covering the Kaaba) around the Black Stone corner and the edges of the Meezab (the golden spout from where rainwater from the roof of the Kaaba falls) was embellished with golden borders on Sunday.

“We wash the Kaaba from the inside using 45 liters of scented Zamzam water,” said the main caretaker of the Kaaba, Sheikh Saleh Bin Zainalabdeen Al-Shaibi, who opens the door of the Kaaba for the washing right after dawn prayers.

“It takes us two hours to fully wash the inside of the Kaaba. Praying inside the Kaaba is a great honor as Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) himself had prayed inside,” said Al-Shaibi.

He said the walls of the inside of the Kaaba are three meters high and the ceiling is covered with green silken cloth.

“We also wash the Maqam Ibrahim, where the footprints of Prophet Ibrahim (pbuh) are imprinted. We clean the Maqam using scented Zamzam water. It takes us four hours to clean it from inside and outside,” said Al-Shaibi.

“Taking care of the Kaaba has been a family tradition for many decades. Most of the caretakers are from Al-Shaibi family and we consider it as an honor that has been granted to us,” said Al-Shaibi. He added he has the key to the gate of the Kaaba.

“The key is 25-cm long. I am the only one authorized to open the Kaaba for washing and then to close it after the washing is over and the King has performed his prayers. Sometimes we have Muslim diplomatic guests coming from different countries. We let them pray inside the Kaaba,” said Al-Shaibi.

Al-Sudais explained that the ceremony is a sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), who washed the Kaaba after the Makkah victory. Sheikh Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais Washed Kaabah Before 2016

Beautiful Clicks of Kaaba Grand Mosque

Muslims are must to face the Kaaba when performing salat (prayer). From any point in the world, the direction facing the Kaaba is called the qibla. The sanctuary around the Kaaba is called Al-Masjid al-Haram.

The Kaaba is the holiest site in Islam, and is often called by names such as the House of God or the House of Allah.

Special Perfume for the kaabthaulla. Kaabah also considered the "House of Allah". The kaabthaulla is Suitated in  the center of Islam's most sacred mosque, Al-Masjid al-Haram, in Mecca, al-Hejaz, Saudi Arabia. It is the most sacred Muslim site in the world.

Muslims are must to face the Kaaba when performing salat (prayer). From any point in the world, the direction facing the Kaaba is called the qibla. The sanctuary around the Kaaba is called Al-Masjid al-Haram

The Kaaba is the holiest site in Islam, and is often called by names such as the House of God or the House of Allah.

Special Perfume for the kaabthaulla. Kaabah also considered the "House of Allah". The kaabthaulla is Suitated in  the center of Islam's most sacred mosque, Al-Masjid al-Haram, in Mecca, al-Hejaz, Saudi Arabia. It is the most sacred Muslim site in the world.

Beautiful Clicks of Kaaba Grand Mosque, Fast moving Pictures in Kaabah, Grand Mosque Pictures in Makkah,Eagle View of Kaabah,Eagle View of Grand Mosque

Beautiful Clicks of Kaaba Grand Mosque

South Gates of Grand Mosque closed for Expansion

The General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques closed down the south gates of the Grand Mosque in Makkah to complete the expansion work.

The project will increase the Grand Mosque’s capacity to 107,000 worshippers inside the Mataf in one hour.

It will also improve the level of services with the installation of the latest technologies.

Last July Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman launched five projects as part of the third phase of expanding the Grand Mosque.

The expansion projects comprise the King Abdullah Expansion Structure; courtyards; tunnels; buildings for service facilities; and, the first ring road.

The development is touted to be the “project of the century.”

The late King Abdullah had laid the foundation stone for the expansion of the Grand Mosque at a ceremony held in Makkah on 19 August, 2011. The King Abdullah Expansion Project is estimated to cost over $26.6bn (SAR100bn).

The expansion covers an area of 45.6ha, and is expected to accommodate up to 1.2 million further worshippers.

Courtyards of the expanded mosque alone are expected to house at least 250,000 worshipers.

Kiswah is Being Lowered After Hajj

The Kiswah is being lowered right now, as the Hajj season comes to an end.

In The Hajj time , Kiswa was rolled up slightly. Every year of Dhul Hajj they chnaging the new kiswa.

Kaaba gets new Kiswa, embroidered with 120kg of gold threads

A Saudi worker sews Islamic calligraphy in gold thread on a drape to cover the Kaaba at the Kiswa factory in the holy city of Makkah.

Islam’s holiest site, the Kaaba, was dressed in its new Kiswa (the cloth that covers the Kaaba) after Fajr prayer on Sunday by as many as 86 technicians and weavers.

The Kaaba is dressed in its new Kiswa on the Day of Arafat every year. During the same daym, the Grand Mosque is usually empty because all the pilgrims are gathered in Arafat.

The Makkawis, especially women, avail this opportunity to spend the entire day in the Grand Mosque praying and doing tawaf (circumambulation) around the Kaaba.

The Kiswa is made of pure silk with gold threads at the cost of more than SR22 million. It is manufactured in a special factory in Makkah which is manned by 240 technicians, weavers and administrators.

The Kiswa is 95 centimeters wide and nine meters high. It is made upon 47 pieces which are joined together to cover all the corners of the Kaaba.

Some 86 technicians and weavers take part in changing the Kiswa (the cloth that covers the Kaaba) in the Grand Mosque in Makkah on Sunday. The Kiswa is changed once a year when pilgrims leave for the plains of Arafat for Haj.