MAKKAH: Saudi Arabia will open the Holy Kaaba today for its annual washing ceremony, continuing a centuries-old Islamic tradition that honors the faith’s holiest site.
Officials from the General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques will conduct the ceremony on 15 Muharram, corresponding to June 30, using Zamzam water blended with natural rose water and musk.
The ritual is one of the most sacred religious rituals at the Grand Mosque. The Kingdom performs the ritual each year as part of its continuous care and management of Islam’s holiest site. The ritual also underscores the significance of the Kaaba in the religious practice of more than two billion Muslims around the world.
How the Kaaba Is Washed
The process starts with the workers getting the interior of the Kaaba ready, followed by washing the interior floor, walls and columns with water. Washing procedure entails the use of white cloth that is dipped in aromatic perfumes such as roses and musk perfumes. The workers also burn the best incenses and use scented oils within the room, thus filling the interior part of the room with sweet smell.
This ceremony has historical backgrounds dating back to the era when Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) himself came to the Kaaba and performed prayers after his victory in Makkah by removing idols from there. Muslim rulers and the custodians of the Grand Mosque have continued the practice ever since.
Tradition Rooted in Islam
Unlike routine maintenance work, the annual washing serves a broader spiritual purpose. Every stage reflects the respect Muslims attach to the Kaaba as the Qibla, the direction toward which Muslims perform their five daily prayers. The ceremony also reinforces the enduring relationship between Islamic heritage and the ongoing care devoted to the Grand Mosque.
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The Saudi government has now taken a step of integrating their traditional practices with modern methods of conservation to conserve one of the most significant religious sites in Islam. Specialized units keep track of the environment surrounding the Kaaba, ensure the integrity of its structure, take care of Kiswah, and undertake regular cleaning of the site throughout the year as millions of pilgrims travel to Makkah during the seasons of Umrah and Hajj.
Year-Round Care for Kaaba
Annual cleaning of the Kaaba is also part of an extensive program of operations for the preservation of the Two Holy Mosques. The General Authority has ensured that these programs have grown to include measures that not only protect the historical aspects of the site but also its cleanliness.
This is because the ritual receives considerable attention worldwide in the Muslim community due to the stringent control by the Saudi government on any individual who wants to enter the holy Kaaba. The Saudi government invites only government ministers, religious figures, diplomats, and some dignitaries to participate in the ritual.
However, there is another important aspect that makes this ritual unique – the strong message about continuity it conveys. Even though the techniques of preservation of the Grand Mosque change from year to year, the values associated with the yearly ritual have remained the same throughout all these years.
With the coming of the new year of Islam, the ritual washing serves to remind us once again of a tradition which goes well beyond the act of cleaning an ancient edifice. It sustains the practice of devotion which continues to bind Muslims together around their spiritual focal point while at the same time proving how an ancient faith tradition is very much alive in our time.
