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Malegaon:
The Holy Kaaba in Makkah - the sacred town located in Saudi Arabia
would be washed in the presence of dignitaries, diplomats and other
guests this Saturday, reports Arab News.
According to the report, Gov. of
Makkah Prince Khaled Al-Faisal will, on behalf of Custodian of the
Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, wash the Kaaba on Saturday (Muharram
16).
A number of Muslim scholars,
government officials, dignitaries and diplomats will attend the
event, which takes place twice a year on the 15th of Shabaan (the
month preceding the fasting month of Ramadan) and in mid-Muharram
(the month after Dhul Hijjah when Muslims perform Haj), says the
report.
The House of God is given a new Kiswa
(covering) on the 9th of Dhul Hijjah when pilgrims proceed to Arafat
for the main event of the Haj.
The washing ritual of the Kaaba begins
with the performance of two raka’hs inside the cuboidal structure.
The interior walls will then be cleaned with rose, oud and musk
perfumes using white cloth.
Zamzam water mixed with rose perfume
will then be splashed on the floor and then wiped with bare hands
and palm leaves.
Before entering the Kaaba to do the
washing, Prince Khaled will circumambulate the Kaaba seven times (Tawaf)
during which he will touch the Black Stone. He will then receive the
key to the Kaaba presented in a bag made of green velvet from its
custodian (Bani Shayba). On entering the House of God, the prince
will perform two raka’hs on a marble sheet, the spot where it is
believed that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) prayed.
The washing ceremony will begin after
the guests have exited. The marble floor and the walls will be
washed with Zamzam water mixed with rose perfume.
After the cleaning, the floor and the
walls will be dried again with white cloth and tissues. The walls
are then perfumed using large quantities of oud and rose perfume.
The Kaaba will then be incensed.
The Kaaba is 14 meters high from the
eastern side, 12.11 meters from the western and southern sides, and
11.28 meters from the northern side. Its inside floor is laid with
colored marble. Its ceilings are supported by three wooden columns,
each with a diameter of 44 cm.
The structure has two ceilings, a
lower one and an upper one. Its inside walls are covered with
curtains made of green velvet that are changed once every three
years. The top of the upper roof has a vent, which is 127 cm long
and 104 cm wide to allow sunlight to enter. This vent is covered
with strengthened glass and is opened during the washing ceremony.
The vent can be reached via a glass staircase of 50 steps.
The door of the Kaaba is made of wood
and covered with 280 kg of pure gold. It is 310 cm in height and 190
cm in width. The length of the Kaaba’s key is 40 cm. The door is
erected 225 cm above ground level.
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