What’s inside the Kaaba and what covers it? The story of the Kiswah

The first day of Hajj has begun, with more than 1.5 million Muslims from around the world making the annual pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia – a once-in-a-lifetime journey for many. As part of the five-day rituals, pilgrims visit the Kaaba, encircling it counterclockwise several times. The Kaaba is draped in a black cloth called the Kiswah, which is embroidered in gold with Arabic Quranic verses. In this visual explainer, Al Jazeera breaks down 10 things to know about the Kaaba, its interior and its covering. 1. What is the Kaaba? The Kaaba, meaning cube in Arabic, is Islam’s holiest site and is at the centre of Masjid al-Haram, the Grand Mosque in Mecca. Muslims around the world face towards it during their five daily prayers, a direction known as the qibla, unifying more than a billion people in a single act of worship, regardless of where they are worldwide. The Kaaba measures 13.1m (43 feet) high, 12.8m (42ft) long and 11.03m (36ft) wide. (Al Jazeera) 2. What is the history of the Kaaba? Muslims believe the Kaaba was originally built by the Prophet Abraham (Ibrahim) and his son Prophet Ishmael (Ismail) as a house of worship, in direct obedience to God’s command. The Kaaba is referenced multiple times throughout the Quran, Islam’s holy book, including the moment Ibrahim and Ismail raised its foundations. Before Islam, the Kaaba was a site of worship for various Arabian tribes. …