Historic Kaaba curtain from 1988 on display at Edirne Old Mosque

In the Edirne Old Mosque, an original pure silk Kaaba curtain brought to Türkiye in 1988 is now on display. Provincial Mufti Ercan Aksu stated that the Kaaba curtain is replaced with a new one each year before Eid al-Adha. He explained that the displayed curtain is one of those replaced in 1988 and consists of eight pieces, including a veil that forms the Kaaba door, known as the 'Burka.' Weighing 70 kilograms and measuring 6 meters long by 3 meters wide, the curtain features verses including Surah Al-Fatiha and the names of Allah. The curtain was brought to Türkiye by an individual and is now showcased in the Old Mosque thanks to the initiative of Edirne Governor Yunus Sezer. Aksu mentioned that the curtain will be displayed until the end of Ramadan. He highlighted that the mosque also houses a piece of the Kaaba stone, creating excitement for visitors. Bahar Yenerel, a visitor from Lüleburgaz, expressed her surprise and excitement upon seeing the Kaaba curtain. The pieces of the 'Hacer-ül Esved' stone, believed to have been brought from Mount Abu Qubays during the construction of the Kaaba, were brought to Istanbul during the Ottoman Empire. Architect Sinan placed four of these pieces in the Sokullu Mehmet Pasha Mosque in Istanbul, built by the wife of Grand Vizier Sokullu Mehmet Pasha in 1571. The piece in the Old Mosque is located on the right side of the mihrab, believed to be a fragment that fell from the Kaaba during heavy rains. According to tradition, the Kaaba emir dreamt of Prophet Muhammad, who instructed him to send the piece to a mosque in Diyar-ı Rum, leading to its eventual placement in the Old Mosque. After the stone was installed, the mosque was completed shortly thereafter.