Treasures of Mecca exhibited in Bradford

Rare Islamic relics, including the sacred veil of the Kaaba, are exceptionally exhibited at the City Hall of Bradford, an industrial city in Yorkshire located in northern England. Cited of 500,000 inhabitants, more than a quarter of which is of Muslim confession, Bradford hosts this free exhibition which presents historical objects never seen by the public, as revealed by the BBC Yorkshire.

Among the centerpieces is the Kiswa, a fabric 9 meters long which covers the Kaaba, a sacred building in the heart of the great mosque of Mecca. This precious fabric, embroidered with Koranic verses with 22 carat gold and silver son, is usually changed each year during the pilgrimage.

The exhibition also includes artifacts from the Ottoman Empire over 270 years old, as well as the Kaaba lock and key. Even more rarer, a drape from the inner tomb of the prophet Mohammed will be presented, “A room normally reserved for the Saudi royal family”underlines the organizer Riyaz Maniar.

“This is a unique opportunity in a life”insists Riyaz Maniar, from Dewsbury. “Even in Mecca or Medina, it is impossible to so closely approach these sacred objects. The manufacture of gold parts and calligraphy require a whole year of meticulous artisanal work. ”

After Birmingham and Dewsbury, this unique collection, loaned by the Saudi authorities, will continue its British tour in April in Batley. The event is supported by the Mosques Council and the Municipality of Bradford.

This exhibition is of particular importance in the current British context. By choosing Bradford, an emblematic city of British multiculturalism, to present these usually inaccessible treasures, the Saudi authorities contribute to intercultural dialogue. The opening of the exhibition to non-Muslims testifies to a desire to share the Islamic heritage, while strengthening the links between local communities. This approach contributes more broadly to the recognition and enhancement of cultural diversity in the United Kingdom.