The Black Stone called al-Hajar-ul-Aswad

The Black Stone called al-Hajar-ul-Aswad in Arabic is a Muslim object of reverence, which according to Islamic tradition dates back to the time of Adam and Eve. It is the eastern cornerstone of the Kaaba, the ancient sacred stone building towards which Muslims pray, in the center of the Grand Mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

The Stone is roughly 30 cm (12 in.) in diameter, and 1.5 meters (5 ft.) above the ground.

When pilgrims circle the Kaaba as part of the Tawaf ritual of the Hajj, many of them try, if possible, to stop and kiss the Black Stone, emulating the kiss that it received from the Islamic prophet Muhammad. If they cannot reach it, they are to point to it on each of their seven circuits around the Kaaba.

The Stone is broken into a number of pieces from damage which was inflicted during the Middle Ages. The pieces are held together by a silver frame, which is fastened by silver nails to the Stone.

Small History of Stone

the Stone fell from Heaven to show Adam[pbuh] and Eve where to build an altar and offer a sacrifice to God. The Altar became the first temple on Earth. Muslims believe that the stone was originally pure and dazzling white, but has since turned black because of the sins it has absorbed over the years. Islamic tradition holds that Adam’s[pbuh] altar and the stone were lost in the process of Noah’s Flood and forgotten. It was Abraham who found the Black Stone at the original site of Adam’s[pbuh] altar when the Archangel Gabriel revealed it to him. Abraham ordered his son–and the ancestor of Prophet Muhammad[pbuh]–Ishmael to build a new temple in which to imbed the Stone. This new temple is the Kaaba in Mecca.

Touching or kissing the Black Stone has a profound impact on the faithful as it is suppose to count in their favor on judgment day. that the Prophet said that it is the Right Hand of God on Earth.


1. The Black Stone was sent down by Allaah to this earth from Paradise.

The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:

“The Black Stone came down from Paradise.”
(Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 877; al-Nasaa’i, 2935. The hadeeth was classed as saheeh by al-Tirmidhi).

2. The Stone was whiter than milk, but the sins of the sons of Adam made it black.

The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:

“When the Black Stone came down from Paradise, it was whiter than milk, but the sins of the sons of Adam made it black.”
(Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 877; Ahmad, 2792. )

(a) Al-Mubaarakfoori said in al-Marqaah: This means, the sins of the sons of Adam who touched the stone, caused it to turn black. The hadeeth should be taken at face value, because there is no reason not to, either narrated in a report or by virtue of common sense.
(Tuhfat al-Ahwadhi, 3/525)

(b) Al-Muhibb al-Tabari said: The fact that it is black is a lesson for those who have insight. If sins can have this effect on an inanimate rock, then the effect they have on the heart is greater.
See Fath al-Baari, 3/463

3. The Black Stone will come forth on the Day of Resurrection and will testify in favour of those who touched it in truth.

The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said concerning the Stone:

“By Allaah, Allaah will bring it forth on the Day of Resurrection, and it will have two eyes with which it will see and a tongue with which it will speak, and it will testify in favour of those who touched it in sincerity.”
Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 961; Ibn Maajah, 2944

(4) Touching the Stone is one of the things by means of which Allaah expiates for sins

the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) say:

“Touching them both [the Black Stone and al-Rukn al-Yamani] is an expiation for sins.”
(Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 959. This hadeeth was classed as hasan by al-Tirmidhi and as saheeh by al-Haakim (1/664). Al-Dhahabi agreed with him).

And Allaah knows best.