Thread by @IslamicLandmark

Thread about the Hajar al-Aswad (The Black Stone):

The Hajar al-Aswad, is set in the eastern corner of the Ka’bah in Makkah. Tawaf begins and ends facing this sacred stone.

(cont'd...)

Throughout the ages, countless people including many of the Prophets (عليه الصلاة والسلام), the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) himself, the Sahabah (رضي الله عنهم), pious personalities and millions of Muslims who have performed Hajj and Umrah have placed their blessed lips on it.

It was brought from Jannah and presented to Ebrahim (as) to be placed in the corner of the Ka’bah.

Ibn Abbas (ra) narrates the Prophet (ﷺ) said:
“The Black Stone came down from Paradise and it was whiter than milk, but the sins of the sons of Adam turned it black.” [Tirmidhi]

Du’as are accepted at the Hajar al-Aswad. The Prophet (ﷺ) said:

“By Allah! On the Day of Qiyamah, Allah will present the Hajar al-Aswad in such a manner that it will have two eyes and a tongue to testify to the Imaan (faith) of all those who kissed it.” [Tirmidhi]

Ibn Abbas (ra) relates that the Prophet (ﷺ) said:

“The Hajar al-Aswad and al-Maqam (Ebrahim) are two jewels from the jewels of Paradise. Had Allah (ﷻ) not concealed their radiance, they would illuminate everything between the East and the West.” [Tirmidhi]

Umar (ra) once kissed the Hajar al-Aswad and said,
“I know well that you are just a stone that can do neither good nor harm. Had I not seen the Prophet (ﷺ) kiss you, I would not have done so.”

Umar (ra) made it clear that he was following the Sunnah practice of the Prophet (ﷺ) and that although the stone is blessed, it can do neither harm nor good.

It was stolen from the Ka’bah around 930 CE by Qarmatian warriors who were an Ismaeeli Shia sect. They ransacked Makkah and carried the Black Stone away to their base in Ihsaa, in medieval Bahrain. According to the historian Al-Juwayni, the stone was returned in around 952 CE.

The Hajar al-Aswad was originally a complete stone but due to various historical incidents now consists of 8 pieces of varying sizes fixed to a large stone and encased in a silver frame.

The silver frame was first made by Abdullah bin Zubair (ra) and replaced by later Khalifas.

This is a close-up of the Hajar al-Aswad pieces

4 pieces from the original are said to be located in the Sokullu Mehmet Pasa Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey.

1) Above The Mihrab
2) At The Front Of The Mimbar
3) On Top Of The Mimbar
4) Above The Inner Entrance

An additional piece is said to be embedded outside the tomb of Sulayman the Magnificent, also in Istanbul.

(And Allah SWT knows best)

Note that when kissing the Hajar al-Aswad, one should neither push people nor harm anyone because while kissing the Hajar al-Aswad is Sunnah, causing harm to people is a forbidden act (haram).

Due to crowding, it will suffice to merely point towards the Hajar al-Aswad with one’s hand while reciting the Takbeer and then to kiss the hand.

Although the Prophet (ﷺ) kissed it directly, he also pointed towards it when the area was crowded, so this also counts as Sunnah.

May Allah (swt) grant us all the ability to visit the Ka'bah soon and benefit from its special blessings, Ameen.

@IslamicLandmark