The sacred cloth at the center of the Hajj pilgrimage

As millions gather for Hajj, they will circle the Kaaba, which is draped in the black cloth known as the kiswah – a sacred object shaped by centuries of faith, politics and power.

By: Iqbal Akhtar, Florida International University, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: May 25, 2026

Words: 934

Last Updated: 2 months ago

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By Iqbal Akhtar, Florida International University

As Muslims gather for the annual pilgrimage of Hajj in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, they will circle around the “Kaaba,” a black cube draped in gold-embroidered cloth. A ceremonial textile – known as the “kiswah” – covers the Kaaba, around which Muslims will walk seven times in a ritual known as “tawāf.” It is the central act of the annual pilgrimage.

The Kaaba itself is a roughly cubic gray granite structure …

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