Open Thread Sunday + Special Photo Feature

New Muslim Cool: A documentary about Muslim rappers has been released in San Francisco, following the journey of Hamza Perez, a Puerty Rican convert. Have any MM readers seen it? Click here for the film's official website.

A special treat for MM readers: exclusive pictures from the Museum of Islamic Artifacts in Makkah (actually, I don't know what the museum's real name is, but this will do). As some of you know, my family and I were able to go for 'Umrah in March, and as part of our trip we were able to visit both the Kiswah factory, and the museum, al-Hamdulillaah.

Below are pics of the Haramain, the Kiswah factory (where they make the covering for the Ka'bah, from beginning to end), and artifacts from the museum in Makkah.

Edit: Amatullah has added her pictures as well, including Mount Uhud, Masjid Nabawi, the Qur'an Arc bridge and the Kiswah Factory.

Part One: Masjid Quba, The Haramain, and a Camel at 'Arafah

Part Two: The Kiswah factory.

• This is where they make the covering of the Ka'bah, from beginning to end. The first two pictures of machines show the silk being spun and woven into cloth (the silk is bought raw, and dyed, spun, and woven at the factory in Makkah).
• The design is then drawn upon the cloth and the outline is embroidered. The more heavily embroidered sections are raised by laying thick white cord over the outlines and sewn on with yellow thread.
• The embroidery continues, with the final layers being sewn with thread of pure gold and silver.
• Although not shown, a special machine is used to embroider the rest of the Kiswah – what looks like plain black cloth is, upon closer inspection, actually decorated with black-on-black silk thread. The Name of Allāh is repeatedly embroidered all around.
• Facts: In previous times, the Kiswah used to be made in other lands, including China and India (famed for the quality of their silk and textiles), and transported to Makkah. It used to come in other colours as well, including red and green. Nowadays, everything is done within the one factory in Makkah, from beginning to end.

Part Three: The Museum

• The museum is an amazing place, containing rare photos and ancient artifacts from the Haramain that go back to the time of the Khulafaa' ar-Rashidoon. Unfortunately most of the pictures my brothers took came out quite blurred, so I was able to salvage only a few to show here. Nonetheless, it was amazing to see how each ruler of the Ummah, throughout Islamic history, made their mark through contributions to the architecture and decor of the masaajid.

Picture descriptions, in order:

• A tiny scaled model of the Haram in Makkah, depicting its latest expansion. Older models showed how previous Kings of Saudi added to the construction and changes (for example, people are now unable to go down to the Well of ZamZam).
• An illustration of the interior of the Ka'bah. An old teak staircase mounted on wheels, to allow it to roll up to the side of the Ka'bah.
• A spiffy gate thing. I don't remember when it was made and used, or what it was even for. Sorry!
• An old covering of the Black Stone. An old Kiswa weaving machine.
• Three ancient tiles, commissioned by various rulers. A couple of the tiles were records of the sultans' lineages and titles.
• An original copy of one of the Uthmani masaahif. Finally, one of the old covers of the ZamZam Well.