Was a piece of the sacred ‘Kiswah’ that covers the Kaaba sent to Jeffrey Epstein? | World News

Washington: Anger has erupted in parts of the Muslim world after new declassified US documents showed that pieces of sacred cloth covering the Holy Kaaba, known as Kiswah, were sent to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The disclosures appeared in a series of files (known as the Epstein files) made public by the United States Department of Justice on January 30. The files included email exchanges from 2017 that described three separate pieces of Kiswah sent from Saudi Arabia to Epstein’s residences, including his properties in Florida and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The revelation triggered outrage online. Many users expressed their sadness that fabrics associated with Islam’s holiest site had found their way to a disgraced person. Pictures were also distributed along with the documents. A widely shared photo from 2014 showed Epstein examining an ornate piece of fabric laid out on the floor. The fabric resembled the decorative section used on the door covering of the Kaaba. There is no direct documentary link connecting this footage to the 2017 shipment. The authenticity of the fabric in the photo has not been verified.

Kiswah has deep symbolic value in Islam. The black silk coating is woven with Quranic verses embroidered with gold and silver threads. It covers all four walls of the Kaaba in the center of the Grand Mosque in Mecca. Millions of pilgrims come into contact with him every year. The cloth is ceremoniously changed during the Islamic New Year.

According to archival correspondence, Epstein’s staff coordinated with a Saudi contact identified in emails as Aziz al-Ahmadi to arrange the delivery of the fabric pieces. It was stated that one piece was the green cloth used inside the Kaaba. Another was black fabric from the outer covering. The third consisted of embroidered material made from similar fabric but never used. An email sent in February 2017 talked about plans to send pieces of Kaaba fabric to the mosque. The location of that mosque was not known. There is no evidence of a mosque structure on any of Epstein’s island properties. Records mentioned a small domed building identified as a temple on Little Saint James Island.

Shipping data showed that the cargo arrived at Epstein’s residence in Palm Beach on March 4, 2017. He was later transferred to St Thomas, near his private island in the US Virgin Islands. Several victims had previously claimed to have been abused on that island. In the customs declaration dated March 14, 2017, it was stated that the shipment consisted of paintings, drawings and pastels. A follow-up email sent on March 21 confirmed that the Kiswah pieces had been delivered to Epstein’s home.

A message accompanying the post claimed that millions of Muslims from different sects had touched the black shroud during the Hajj pilgrimage. The note explains that pilgrims walked around the Kaaba seven times and left their prayers and hopes on the cloth. Records did not confirm whether the items were original Kiswah pieces or ceremonial replicas. It was also unclear whether the pieces were gifts or obtained through other channels. US archives show this was not Epstein’s first shipment from Saudi Arabia.

In previous correspondence, requests for photographs inside the mosque and preparations for placing objects in the mosque area were mentioned. Other deliveries included traditional Arab tents, carpets, coffee pots and baskets. The documents did not conclusively link all items to a single shipment. Those meetings took place years after Epstein was convicted in 2008 on prostitution charges involving a minor.

No response was received to the questions sent to the person mentioned in the e-mails. Legal observers said the presence of a name on the documents did not constitute a crime.

Control over the production and distribution of kiswah rests with the Saudi authorities. There is no public law governing how retired clothing should be divided. Experts on Hajj traditions explained that the embroidered sections with gold and silver calligraphy were often gifted by the Saudi royal palace to heads of state and high-ranking officials. The remaining black fabric is divided into smaller pieces and distributed to lower-ranking officials.

Islamic art historians have described Kiswah as something that is not sacred in a theological sense but is culturally revered. The fabric has been compared to the royal regalia of a sacred building. Even after removal, it is important to use it respectfully. Questions have also been raised about whether non-Muslims can receive such pieces as gifts. Some scholars did not find this permissible.

The emails, which suggested broader connections between Epstein and his Saudi contacts, drew further scrutiny. The messages, sent between 2016 and 2019, showed business meetings, meetings in New York and Paris, and efforts to make an impact in Saudi circles. An email advised against a public listing of Saudi oil giant Aramco. Another copied the correspondence of one of the royal court advisors.