Thai Artist, 78, Who Helped Craft Kaaba’s Golden Door in 1979 Arrives in Saudi Arabia as Royal Guest
MAKKAH: Abdullah bin Abdul Muttalib, a 78-year-old Thai Muslim artist who played a key role in making the current golden door of the Kaaba in 1979, has returned to Saudi Arabia after decades. He arrived 47 years later as a guest of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques.Known in Thailand as Professor Khatawut Nakanawa,…
MAKKAH: Abdullah bin Abdul Muttalib, a 78-year-old Thai Muslim artist who played a key role in making the current golden door of the Kaaba in 1979, has returned to Saudi Arabia after decades. He arrived 47 years later as a guest of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques.
Known in Thailand as Professor Khatawut Nakanawa, Abdullah came this time not as an artist but under the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques’ guest program. During his stay in Madinah, he shared his memories of the door’s creation.
He said the project to build a new door for the Kaaba began in 1979 during the reign of King Khalid bin Abdulaziz. He headed a team that included three carpenters and three goldsmiths who travelled from Thailand. Because he spoke Arabic, Abdullah also served as the team’s translator and played an important role in supervising the work.
He said that Sheikh Ahmed Ibrahim Badr, a well-known Makkah goldsmith, and his relative Hassan Hariri were also involved in the project.
