In Saudi Arabia: The Legacy of a Century-Old Tradition as Keykeeper to the Kaaba Dies

In Saudi Arabia, Dr. Salah bin Zain al-Abidin al-Shaibi passed away after a long illness. He was the keeper of the keys to the Kaaba, which is the main shrine of the Muslim world and is located in the Sacred Mosque of Mecca. The position of keeper of the keys has been held by members of the al-Shaibi family for centuries, dating back to the time of the Prophet Muhammad. Salah was the 77th person to hold this position since Muhammad’s conquest of Mecca in the 7th century AD.

Salah’s duties included opening and closing the shrine, overseeing cleaning and ablutions, and maintaining the kiswa – a traditional cover made of black and gold embroidery. He was also a professor of Islamic