Journal

Stories 7 September 2026 4 min read

The Ottoman Kiswa: history and features

Four centuries when the Kiswa was made in Egypt and carried to Mecca with the caravan: workshops, the mahmal, colours, calligraphy and what distinguishes an Ottoman-era fragment from a modern one.

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Gifting 4 September 2026 4 min read

A gift for a father or mentor: the etiquette of respect

How respect for elders is expressed in Kazakhstan, how a meaningful gift differs from an expensive one, and how to present a Kiswa fragment so that the moment is remembered.

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Care 1 September 2026 4 min read

How to store and display a Kiswa fragment

Light, humidity, temperature, frame, glass, scent, cleaning, moving: conservation rules for historical textiles translated for an ordinary home.

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Kiswa 29 August 2026 4 min read

Names of Allah on the Kiswa: the meaning of the calligraphy

What is embroidered on the Kiswa, which names and formulas appear on the collection’s fragments and what they mean.

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Gifting 26 August 2026 4 min read

How to choose a Kiswa fragment as a gift

For whom, for which occasion, with which inscription and in which size: a practical guide from budget to the moment of giving.

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Kiswa 23 August 2026 4 min read

What happens to the old Kiswa

The replacement ceremony, the fate of the removed cloth, the tradition of gifting fragments, museums and auctions — the Kiswa’s path after it leaves the Kaaba.

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Authenticity 20 August 2026 4 min read

How to verify the authenticity of a Kiswa fragment

Documents, material, embroidery, red flags and independent expertise: a step-by-step guide for a buyer who wants to be sure.

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Kiswa 17 August 2026 4 min read

What is the Kaaba Kiswa

The covering of the Kaaba: what it is made of, what is embroidered on it, why it is replaced every year and how its fragments reach private collections.

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