The Kaaba Cover Produced in the Courtyard of Sultanahmet Mosque and the State Ceremony Organized for This Cover

Authors : Ayşenur Erdoğan

Pages : 35-53

View : 50 | Download : 58

Publication Date : 2025-06-10

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :The Kaaba, regarded sacred since its existence, has been covered as part of a centuries-old tradition, the exact time of its origin remains uncertain. However, it is known that the Kaaba was veiled by the pre-Islamic jahiliyyah period. Upon the prophet Muhammad’s emergence, the practice of covering the Kaaba became more codified, and subsequent rulers acknowledged the responsibility of maintaining this tradition. During the Mamluk period, when they held the caliphate, the manufacturing of the kiswa (the Kaaba cover) became fully institutionalized. Following the Mamluks, the Ottomans inherited this tradition, and for centuries, the Kaaba cover was produced in Egypt through a specialized organization. Furthermore, the completion of its production and its delivery to Mecca were celebrated with a ceremony peculiar to the Kaaba cover. However, on July 21, 1798, when the French army under the command of Napoleon Bonaparte entered Cairo, Egypt was officially occupied, and the production of the kiswa was interrupted. The Ottoman Empire reacted promptly, but as Egypt remained under occupation, the kiswa could not be produced there. In response, preparations began in the capital, Istanbul, and the courtyard of Sultanahmet Mosque was transformed into a kiswa production facility. During the period of French occupation in Egypt (1798-1801), the kiswa was produced four times in succession in Istanbul, ensuring that the Kaaba remained covered and that the ceremonial tradition was upheld. A grand ceremony, similar to those held in Egypt, was organized in Istanbul with large attendance, and this event was recorded in the Ottoman ceremonial registers.
Keywords : Kisve-i şerife, Kabe Örtüsü, İstanbul, Mısır, Sultanahmet Camii, Osmanlı Devlet Merasimi