Dr. Babar Awan tries his hands on the machine that weaves Kiswa—the black cloth that drapes the Ka'ba, at the Kiswa factory, Makkah.— Courtesy photoMAKKAH – Dr. Babar Awan, former Pakistani law minister, has lauded the wisdom and sagacity of King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, for leading the Kingdom towards the path of progress and prosperity as he took a tour of the Kiswa factory in Umm Al-Joud suburb and the exhibition of the Two Holy Mosques' architecture in Makkah Mukarramah, Tuesday. He was accompanied by Consul General Abdul Salik Khan, Deputy Consul General Imran Ahmed Siddiqui and other diplomats from the Consulate General of Pakistan. “The efforts of King Abdullah have earned the title ‘Kingdom of Heaven' for the country,” he said. “Kingdom's measures to preserve Islamic heritage are worth appreciation.” Senior officials of the Kiswa factory explained the visiting team that Kiswa— the black cloth strewn with gold and silver threads that drapes the Holy Ka'ba, is produced in the factory . “Some 47 pieces of cloth measuring 14 by 1.01 meter, are put together by over 240 skillful artisans adept in embroidery to form one Kiswa,” the officials explained. “The ceremony of changing Kiswa takes place on 9th Dhul Hijjah each year. It is wrapped around the Ka'ba and fixed to the ground by copper rings.” The officials said Kiswa factory was established some 74 years ago by King Abdul Aziz, founder of the Kingdom. The visitors while interacting with artisans who were busily creating calligraphic impressions of the verses of the Holy Qur'an using gold and silver threads, showed keen interest in the making of Kiswa. “Some 670 Kg of pure silk, and 150 kg of gold and silver threads are used in the process of making one Kiswa,” artisans told the visitors. The Kiswa, the officials said, is composed of three parts: a Sitaar (curtain) of the Ka'ba door, an inner lining curtain inside the Ka'ba and a Hizam (the belt). Dr. Babar Awan while appreciating the skills of the workers, said the entire Ummah is indebted to them for the kind of work they put together. The team also visited the exhibition depicting the architecture of the Two Holy Mosques.
