1. The Black Stone According to History:
The Black Stone (al-Ḥajar al-Aswad) is a revered stone set into the eastern corner of the Kaaba in Mecca. Islamic tradition teaches that it descended from Paradise and was given to Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) and his son Ismail when they built the Kaaba. Over time it turned black from the sins of humanity. Before Islam, the Arabs respected the stone, and when the Quraysh rebuilt the Kaaba around 605 CE, a young Muhammad resolved a dispute over who should place it by having all leaders lift it together. During Islamic times, it became a key marker for beginning tawaf (circumambulation), and Muhammad kissed it, establishing the practice for pilgrims. In 930 CE, the Qarmatians seized the stone and took it to Bahrain, returning it after about 22 years, by which time it had broken into pieces. Today, the Black Stone is composed of several fragments held in a silver frame, serving as a symbolic and spiritual element of the Kaaba.
Read: Black Stone
2. The Black Stone According to Islamic Scriptures or Teachings:
A.) THE BLACK STONE WAS WORSHIPED BY THE PAGAN QURAYSH AND MUSLIMS TOGETHER. MUHAMMAD CALLED THE BLACK STONE AS “ALLAH IS MOST GREAT”
[Sahih al-Bukhari 4376] Narrated Abu Raja Al-Utaridi: We used to worship stones, and when we found a better stone than the first one, we would throw the first one and take the latter, but if we could not get a stone then we would collect some earth (i.e. soil) and then bring a sheep and milk that sheep over it, and perform the Tawaf around it. When the month of Rajab came, we used (to stop the military actions), calling this month the iron remover, for we used to remove and throw away the iron parts of every spear and arrow in the month of Rajab. Abu Raja’ added: When the Prophet (ﷺ) sent with (Allah’s) Message, I was a boy working as a shepherd of my family camels. When we heard the news about the appearance of the Prophet, we ran to the fire, i.e. to Musailima al-Kadhdhab.
[Sunan Abi Dawud 1889] Narrated Abdullah ibn Abbas: The Prophet (ﷺ) wore the mantle under his right armpit with the end over his left shoulder, and touched the corner (Black Stone), then uttered “Allah is most great” and walked proudly in three circuits of circumambulation. When they (the Companions) reached the Yamani corner, and disappeared from the eyes of the Quraysh, they walked as usual; When they appeared before them, they walked proudly with rapid strides. Thereupon the Quraysh said: They look to be the deer (that are jumping). Ibn Abbas said: Hence this became the sunnah (model behaviour of the Prophet).
B.) THE MUSLIMS BELIEVE THAT THE BLACKS STONE CAN SUCK SINS, AND IT WILL HAVE EYES TO SEE AND TONGUE TO TALK.
[Jami` at-Tirmidhi 877] Ibn Abbas narrated that: The Messenger of Allah said: “The Black Stone descended from the Paradise, and it was more white than milk, then it was blackened by the sins of the children of Adam.”
[Mishkat al-Masabih 2577] He reported God’s messenger as saying, “The black stone descended from paradise whiter than milk, but the sins of the descendants of Adam made it black.”
[Jami` at-Tirmidhi 961] Ibn Abbas narrated that: The Messenger of Allah said about the (Black) Stone: “By Allah! Allah will raise it on the Day of Resurrection with two eyes by which it sees and a tongue that it speaks with, testifying to whoever touched it in truth.”
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