RIYADH — The pilgrims and visitors to the Two Holy Mosques have witnessed the great services rendered by the Kingdom in various fields, and the meticulous care and attention given by the Saudi rulers to the Holy Ka'aba are most notable of all. The Saudi leaders give special attention to washing, clothing, and perfuming the Ka'aba as well as many other aspects, which reflects their keenness on everything that concerns the Qiblah of Muslims. In the year 1363 AH, the founder of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, King Abdulaziz ordered the construction of a new door to the Kaaba after he learned that the door existing at that time had become weak and old. The process of making the door of the Kaaba took about three years, as it was made from an iron base on which the shutter of the door was installed from Javanese wood, laminated with silver, and coated with gold. In addition to that, it was decorated with the names of Allah. The door of the Ka'aba made by King Abdulaziz lasted for 34 years until 1397 AH, when King Khalid ordered the construction of a new door for the Ka'aba, which is still existing. King Khalid issued his directives to build a new door to the Kaaba after noticing that the door had become old and traces of scratches on it. He gave instructions to make the door of repentance (Bab Al-Taubah) with pure gold. The Bab Al-Taubah is located inside the Holy Ka'aba and leads to its roof. The money spent on manufacturing the door of the Kaaba and the door of repentance amounted to 13,420,000 Saudi riyals. This does not include the cost of the gold, which amounted to 280 kilograms. The gold used in making Ka'aba doors is distinguished for its purity, which is 99.9%. It took about 12 months to manufacture the two doors, starting from the beginning of Dhul Hijjah 1398 AH. A special workshop was set up for the purpose. The doors are characterized by several things. The doors are durable and of high quality. They function without the need for any maintenance. The structural construction has been detailed and equipped to provide the door with the beauty of a decorative design, which can withstand harsh weather conditions including extreme heat and rain. The decoration and writing on the door were characterized by a selection of homogeneous types, and the most important of its elements is the decoration of the prominent frame. The decoration was placed at the level of the door's lock to give it necessary importance due to its special status functionally and traditionally. Among the decorations, several Quranic verses are engraved on the door, such as: [Having been told], "Enter it in peace, safe [and secure]." Al-Hijr — verse 46; And say, "My Lord, cause me to enter a sound entrance and to exit a sound exit and grant me from Yourself a supporting authority." Al-Israa — verse 80. Additionally, "Your Lord has decreed upon Himself mercy:" Al-An'aam — verse 54; And your Lord says, "Call upon Me; I will respond to you." Ghafir — verse 60; Say, "O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful." Az-Zumar — verse 53. The Ka'aba door is located on the eastern side of the cubic structure, and it rises from the ground from the Shazriwan (which is part of the cornerstone of the Ka'aba) 222 cm. The height of the door is 318 cm, its width is 171 cm, and its depth is about half a meter.
