The annual ceremonial washing of the Kaaba in the Grand Mosque, Islam’s most sacred site in Makkah, was performed on Sunday, with the Chairman, CEO, National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON joining other selected head of Hajj Missions and Muslim foreign diplomats to take part in the washing.
The Deputy Governor of Makkah, Prince Saud bin Meshal on behalf of Saudi King Salman bin Abdul Aziz, led the washing ceremony that included washing and perfuming the interior of the Kaaba with incense, oud oils and the finest fragrances.
The officials including Malam Jalal Arabi entered the Kaaba using a special stairway.
The ceremony usually includes washing the floor and walls of the revered place
with Zamzam water with mixture of fragrances, incense and rose water.
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The mixture was prepared a moment before the washing commenced by the Presidency for Religious Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque, the Saudi TV said.
Scenting and washing the Kaaba and the Grand Mosque follows a Sunna tradition of the Prophet Mohammed (Peace Be Upon Him), the presidency said.
Muslims across the world directs the Kaaba while performing prayers and flock to the sacred shrine around the year.
Earlier this month, an annual ritual was performed to change the kiswa or the covering cloth of the Kaaba on the first day of the New Islamic lunar Hijri Year.
Some 159 technicians and professional artisans participated in the process traditionally taking place on the 1st of Muharram.
The old kisawa is traditionally replaced with a new one composed of four pieces covering sides of the sacred cube-shaped structure and a curtain on its door.
The Kisawa is manufactured at the King Abdul Aziz Complex for the Holy Kaaba Kiswa manned by more than 200 artisans and administrative staff. The complex comprises departments for dyeing, automatic and hand-made textiles, printing, belts, gold embroideries, sewing and assembling where the world’s tallest computerised sawing machine is installed.