Ghilaf Kaaba: Controversy over sending pieces of ‘kiswah’ from Islam’s holiest site to Jeffrey Epstein

Ghilaf Kaaba: Controversy over sending pieces of ‘kiswah’ from Islam’s holiest site to Jeffrey Epstein

 

 

Muslims around the world are expressing their anger over documents that show that several pieces of cloth covering the Kaaba, Islam’s holiest site, were sent to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The Epstein Files, released by the US Department of Justice on January 30, contain emails from 2017 that identify a shipment of three pieces of the Kaaba’s shroud (known as a ‘kiswah’) that were sent from Saudi Arabia to Epstein’s home in the Caribbean.

“Just imagine a piece of the holiest place in the world being sent to the filthiest place,” wrote one X user.

A 2014 photo shows Epstein examining a piece of cloth lying on the ground with a man, which resembles the most decorative part of the ‘kiswah’ that covers the door of the Kaaba.

Another X user wrote, “My heart broke to see the Kiswah laid out on the floor like a carpet.”

However, the photo does not appear to be related to the documents, which show that parts of the Kiswah were sent to Epstein in 2017.

It is also unclear whether the cloth in the photo is part of the original ‘Kiswah’.

'Mosque'

The black silk covering of the Kaaba is embroidered with gold and silver threads with verses from the Quran.

The four walls of the Kaaba, located at the center of the Grand Mosque in Mecca, are covered with a ‘kiswah’.

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Hundreds of pilgrims touch it every year and it is changed in a ceremony to mark the Islamic new year.

According to US Justice Department archives, in 2017, emails were exchanged between Epstein’s staff and a person named ‘Aziz al-Ahmadi’, in which Epstein was arranged to receive three pieces of ‘kiswah’: a green piece described as the fabric used inside the Kaaba, a black cloth used in the outer covering, and an embroidered cloth made of the same material but not used.

An email dated February 1, 2017, indicates that an assistant to someone identified as “Ahmadi” told Epstein’s staff that he would “send some pieces of the Kaaba for the mosque.”

It is unclear whether he was referring to a location on Epstein’s property by “mosque.”

The caption of the ‘kiswah’ is changed in a ceremony every year to mark the Islamic new year

The Epstein files reviewed so far do not mention a mosque on the island, but a document on the US Department of Justice website refers to a small building called a ‘temple’.

It is not clear what this meant in the email exchange.

This is a temple on the island of ‘Little St. James’, a small building with a golden dome on the southern part of the island.

It should be noted that the ‘mosque’ mentioned in the document is not the Grand Mosque in Mecca, where the Kaaba is located.

The document shows that the cargo arrived at Epstein’s Palm Beach home on March 4, 2017, and was then sent to St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands. This is close to Epstein’s private island of ‘Little St. James’, where several victims have alleged that they were trafficked and sexually abused.

A US customs form dated March 14, 2017, described the goods as “paintings, drawings and pastels.”

A March 21 email confirmed that the pieces of the kiswah had been delivered to “Epstein’s home.”

A subsequent email from Ahmadi told Epstein that the black piece had been touched by “at least 10 million Muslims of Sunni, Shia and other sects.”

The email said that “they circumambulate the Kaaba seven times. Then everyone tries to touch it and they place their prayers, wishes, tears and hopes on the piece.”

‘Not sacred but respectable’

The Saudi authorities control every aspect of the Kiswah, from the preparation of the Kaaba shroud, to its annual replacement and the use of old ones, but there is no law regarding the distribution of old Kiswah.

The BBC contacted Saudi authorities for more information on the matter, but did not receive a response by the time of publication.

Ahmed Al-Halabi, an author of Hajj and Umrah, told the BBC that “the gold and silver inscribed parts, often called ‘belts’ and ‘samadis’, can only be given as gifts by officials of the Saudi Royal Court.”

“These parts are given to heads of state and government officials of Muslim countries.”

Ahmed Al-Halabi added that “the remaining black cloth is usually cut into different pieces and given to lower-ranking officials.”

Dr Simon O’Meara, a historian of Islamic art at SOAS University in London, says that the kiswah is not “religiously sacred” but is highly respected in the Muslim world.

“It is like a king’s robe on the Kaaba.”

“Once the kiswah is taken off the Kaaba, it cannot be desecrated. You cannot set foot on it.”

On the other hand, Halabi also questions the authenticity of the parts mentioned in the correspondence released by the US Department of Justice. They also say that it is not permissible to give kiswah as a gift to non-Muslims.

Delivery of goods to Epstein’s Florida address confirmed

Saudi connection

According to US Justice Department files, Epstein and Ahmadi exchanged numerous emails on various topics between 2016 and early 2019.

Some of the emails addressed him as “boss” or “master” and documents show that the two had met at various locations in New York and Paris.

Documents released by the US Justice Department Saudi government.

An email in July 2016 from Ahmadi’s name indicates that she was trying to arrange a meeting between Epstein and someone named “H.E. Raafat” who wanted to “enjoy” Epstein’s company.

 

The ‘HE’ likely stands for ‘His Excellency’, a title used for high-ranking government officials in Saudi Arabia.

Documents released by the US Department of Justice show that Epstein advised someone named Ahmadi in an email in August 2016 not to list Saudi Arabia’s state oil company, ‘Aramco’, publicly.

‘Ahmadi’ is later seen saying that she would ‘review’ it and in response copies the email address of someone named ‘Rifaat Al-Sabbagh’.

In November 2016, an email from an account belonging to one of Epstein’s assistants said that ‘Aziza is Rifaat’s assistant.’

In several emails sent to various people, Epstein was seen describing ‘Rifaat Al-Sabbagh’ as an ‘advisor’ to the ‘Saudi Crown Prince’.

He was named as an “advisor to the royal court” in a 2017 release by the Saudi Arabian state press agency.

According to emails in US Justice Department files, someone named “Sabbagh” appears to have been in frequent correspondence with Epstein.

In a 2016 text message, an account named “Rifaat Al-Sabbagh” wrote to Epstein, “I like your friendship.”

An email from “Rifaat Al-Sabbagh” sent Epstein a link to a story about a 17-year-old Russian beauty queen who allegedly traveled to Dubai to sell her virginity.

In response, pedophile Jeffrey Epstein wrote, “Finally, you sent me something of value.”

On the other hand, there is limited information about Ahmadi himself in the files, but in an email from September 2018, someone by that name appears to ask Epstein for advice about his mobile game company.

There are many questions about the relationship between Kiswah and the people mentioned in the emails and Epstein. There are growing calls for a full investigation into the matter by Saudi authorities across the Muslim world.