Scunthorpe residents were recently afforded the unique opportunity to discover sacred Islamic artefacts at the St Lawrence Academy. The Kiswat al-Kaaba Exhibition, curated by the Kiswa Arts and Culture Gallery, displayed items that date back an impressive 700 years. Among them was a 29ft-long cloth used to shroud the Holy Kaaba in Mecca. The exhibition treated guests to a selection of rare and original pieces from notable Islamic sites.
Visitors, such as Farzana Khanum, shared their emotional resonance with the exhibited items; Khanum related her recent pilgrimage to Mecca. Francesca Washer, another guest, expressed her privilege in gaining further insight into the Prophet and Islamic history.
Alison Barker, a representative from North Lincolnshire Council, emphasised the importance of cultural heritage sharing. The initiative to bring the exhibition to Scunthorpe was undertaken by Abid Khan; a former student of St Lawrence Academy and current chair of the town’s Multi-Faith Partnership. Khan aimed to provide a more extensive comprehension of Islam within his community.
