The Kiswa covering the Holy Kaaba is crafted over months at a dedicated complex in Makkah, using gold thread, black silk, and Quranic verse embroidery.
On May 27, 2026, at 12:18 PM Makkah time, the sun will sit exactly above the Kaaba, casting no shadow and giving perfect Qibla alignment on a rare Eid al-Adha.
The Kiswa — the black cloth covering the Kaaba — was lifted at 1 AM on April 18, 2026, marking the beginning of the Hajj 2026 season following more than 10 days of maintenance.
Sheikh Abdullah Al-Juhany excused himself after four rakats during Taraweeh prayers after experiencing fatigue and exhaustion, with Sheikh Bandar Baleela stepping in to lead the remainder of the prayer.
Saudi authorities free Sheikh Saleh Al-Talib, former Imam of Makkah’s Grand Mosque, after seven-year imprisonment, though he remains under house arrest with electronic monitoring.
The traditional Ghusl Kaaba (cleansing of the Kaaba) ceremony is scheduled to take place on the 15th of Muharram, 1447 AH falling on Thursday, July 10 or Friday, 2025.
The Kiswa is the black silk cloth with decorative stitching that covers the Sacred Kaaba. It gets replaced every year when the new Islamic calendar year begins.