The Significance and Spiritual Value of Hajar al-Aswad

Hajar al-Aswad (the Black Stone) is the blessed stone set in the eastern corner of the Holy Kaaba, marking the starting point of tawaf. It is protected within a silver casing and sits about 1.5 metres above the ground.

Its History

According to the narrations, the Black Stone was sent down from Paradise. The Prophet (peace be upon him) stated in a hadith that the stone came down from Paradise whiter than milk, and that the sins of people darkened it (Tirmidhi). Prophets Ibrahim and Ismail (peace be upon them) placed the stone in its present position while building the Kaaba. When the Kaaba was rebuilt during the Prophet's youth, a dispute arose between the tribes over who would set the stone in place; the Prophet resolved it by having representatives of all tribes carry the stone together on a cloth.

Its Role in Tawaf

• Tawaf begins at the line of the Black Stone, and istilam is performed at this line on every circuit.
• Istilam means kissing the stone, touching it and kissing one's hand, or greeting it from a distance with a hand gesture in crowded conditions.
• The Prophet (peace be upon him) kissed and saluted the stone himself; therefore istilam is a sunnah.

The Words of Umar (may Allah be pleased with him)

While kissing the stone, Umar said: "I know that you are only a stone; you can neither benefit nor harm. Had I not seen the Messenger of Allah kiss you, I would not have kissed you." These words make clear that istilam is not veneration of a stone, but the following of the Prophet's example.

Etiquette of the Visit

It is not right to harm others by pushing through the crowd to reach the stone; greeting it from a distance carries the same reward. Greeting from afar is especially recommended for the elderly and for women.