The article is devoted to one of the brightest traditions of the Egyptian religious
life — the sending of a Mahmal (ritual palanquin) as part of the pilgrim caravan during the hajj
season. This custom existed from the 13th to the 20th centuries. Particular attention is paid to
the political role of the Mahmal as a symbol of legitimate power and sovereignty over the sacred
cities of Mecca and Medina. Its sending was considered the privilege of Muslim dynasties, which
managed to establish control over the holy cities of the Hejaz. The Mahmal was a pyramidshaped wooden litter covered with silk cloth that was carried on the strongest camel prepared
specifically for this purpose. A magnificent procession with the Mahmal made its way through
the streets of Cairo for three days before joining the caravan. It is believed that there was a veil
for the Kaaba (Kiswah) inside the palanquin as a part of the gifts for Mecca, but this circumstance
is not enough reflected in the sources. A separate chapter of this article is devoted to the history
of the tradition of covering the Kaaba with cloth, since this tradition is inextricably linked with
the Egyptian Mahmal. An extensive literature is used in the article. Most of it is represented by
sources related to different periods, including those specially devoted to the history of Mecca and
the Hajj. (Refs 15.)