Kissing of Hajar al-Aswad
Hajj/Umrah
Asked on 29th November 2020
Question
As-Salaam Aalaykum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu
Sheikh please advise importance of Hajar al-Aswad and why do people kiss or touch it
Answer
Wa'alaykumsalaam Wa Rahmatullah Wa barakaatouh
The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) explained the wisdom behind tawaaf when he said: “Circumambulation of the Ka‘bah (tawaaf), going between as-Safa and al-Marwah (sa‘i), and stoning the Jamaraat have only been ordained to establish the remembrance of Allah.” The one who circumambulates the House of Allah, may He be exalted, does that whilst feeling awe of Allah in his heart, may He be exalted. Thus he is in a state of remembrance of Allah, may He be exalted, and all his movements – walking, kissing or touching the Black Stone and the Yemeni Corner, or pointing to the Black Stone – all come under the heading of remembering Allah, may He be exalted, because they are all acts of worship, and all acts of worship are remembrance of Allah, may He be exalted, in general terms. As for the words that he utters of takbeer, dhikr and du‘aa’, they obviously come under the heading of remembering Allah, may He be exalted. As for kissing the Black Stone, it is an act of worship in which a person kisses a stone to which he has no connection except worshipping Allah, may He be exalted, by venerating it and following the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) by doing that, as it is proven that the Ameer al-Mu’mineen ‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab (may Allah be pleased with him) said, when he kissed the Black Stone: I know that you are a stone and have no power to harm or benefit; were it not that I saw the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) kissing you, I would not have kissed you.
With regard to what some ignorant people think, that the purpose behind that is to seek blessing (barakah) from it, there is no basis for that, so it is invalid.
Allah knows best
The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) explained the wisdom behind tawaaf when he said: “Circumambulation of the Ka‘bah (tawaaf), going between as-Safa and al-Marwah (sa‘i), and stoning the Jamaraat have only been ordained to establish the remembrance of Allah.” The one who circumambulates the House of Allah, may He be exalted, does that whilst feeling awe of Allah in his heart, may He be exalted. Thus he is in a state of remembrance of Allah, may He be exalted, and all his movements – walking, kissing or touching the Black Stone and the Yemeni Corner, or pointing to the Black Stone – all come under the heading of remembering Allah, may He be exalted, because they are all acts of worship, and all acts of worship are remembrance of Allah, may He be exalted, in general terms. As for the words that he utters of takbeer, dhikr and du‘aa’, they obviously come under the heading of remembering Allah, may He be exalted. As for kissing the Black Stone, it is an act of worship in which a person kisses a stone to which he has no connection except worshipping Allah, may He be exalted, by venerating it and following the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) by doing that, as it is proven that the Ameer al-Mu’mineen ‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab (may Allah be pleased with him) said, when he kissed the Black Stone: I know that you are a stone and have no power to harm or benefit; were it not that I saw the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) kissing you, I would not have kissed you.
With regard to what some ignorant people think, that the purpose behind that is to seek blessing (barakah) from it, there is no basis for that, so it is invalid.
Allah knows best