Al Astar

Adel Al Quraishi’s photographs of the central Ka’ba of the Great Mosque in Mecca in its annual undraped state are a remarkable documentation of the epicenter of Islam.

The Mosque in Mecca, arranged around the central Ka’ba, is the holiest site in Islam. Mecca is the birthplace of the Prophet Mohammed and now accommodates as many as tens of thousands of pilgrims in a single day. Pilgrims travel there from across the world in the annual Hajj, a key point in Islamic spiritual life. The Ka’ba is a symbol of unity, a structure of the greatest geometrical simplicity containing a single door. It is, however, considered to be feminine in gender and is draped in a covering of black cloth known as Al Astar to protect its modesty. This cloth, woven with gold, is replaced every year with a special ceremony. On this one day, the Ka’ba is left exposed and unveiled. Exceptionally, the authorities of the Great Mosque in Mecca granted Adel Al Quraishi permission to photograph the Ka’ba, the epicenter of Islam, in its undraped state.

The book, Al Astar [Bulk, Wholesale, Quantity] ISBN#9781836360919 in Hardcover by Adel Quraishi may be ordered in bulk quantities. Minimum starts at 25 copies. Availability based on publisher status and quantity being ordered.