MAKKAH — Over a span of 100 years, the Holy Kaaba’s Kiswa (cover) has been shaped by the skill and dedication of many craftsmen who contributed to its distinctive artistic character. The renowned late calligrapher Abdul Rahim Amin Bukhari is among the most notable of them for his remarkable work in Arabic calligraphy and Islamic design. His name lives on in gold thread, etched into the sacred fabric that veils the Kaaba. In recognition of his distinguished service, his name was inscribed on the Kiswa during the reign of King Faisal more than half a century ago. It remains to this day as a lasting tribute to his outstanding contribution and rich legacy.Born in Makkah in 1917, Bukhari was raised in a cultural setting that appreciated Islamic artistic traditions, and he showed a natural aptitude for Arabic calligraphy from a young age. Over time, this talent grew into a long and distinguished career devoted to serving the Holy Kaaba, where he used his expertise to refine and beautify the Arabic inscriptions and decorative elements of the Kiswa. As a master calligrapher Bukhari dedicated his life to adorning Islam’s holiest site with words of divine beauty. At the age of 15, he joined the Kiswah factory, newly established in 1927 by King Abdulaziz. This factory, devoted to producing the Kaaba’s Kiswa, became the cradle of his artistic journey. Bukhari trained under the best, learning the subtle curves and disciplined elegance of classical scripts. By the 1930s, he had risen to become chief technician, and eventually deputy director by the 1960s. His works included several enduring contributions, most notably the embroidered inscriptions on the Kaaba’s Kiswa, the design and calligraphy of the Kaaba’s door curtain, and the execution of the inscriptions and decorative motifs on the doors of the Kaaba. He executed the lines and decorations of the Kaaba door, which was ordered to be made by the late King Abdulaziz in 1944. Over more than 30 years, he took part in producing 21 Kiswas and supervised the calligraphy and decoration of three Kaaba doors, becoming a respected figure in this specialized craft, until his passing in the late 1990s.
