The Black stone is not worshipped by Muslims

Wednesday, April 4, 2007
THE BLACK STONE WORSHIPPED BY MUSLIMS
THE BLACK STONE IS NOT WORSHIPPED BY MUSLIMS
ByAbdul Haleem

Christians regularly to justify their idolatrous practices - such as prayers to Mary - by claiming that Muslims "worship" the Black Stone at the Kaaba in Makkah.
Having been on hajj let me answer this based both on history and my own experiences. The Black Stone - Hajar al- Aswad - is NOT mentioned in the Quran. The Black Stone is located about five feet from the ground on the East corner of the Kaaba (this corner is known as "al-rukn al-Aswad").
While there are traditions about kissing or touching the Stone, its real significance is as marker of the point at which one starts the Tawaaf (circumambulation of the Kaaba as part of hajj or omra.) Even the traditions which talk about kissing or touching the stone are VERY CLEAR that the Stone is JUST A STONE!
BUKHARI:
Volume 2, Book 26, Number 667:
Narrated 'Abis bin Rabia: Umar came near the Black Stone and kissed it and said "NO DOUBT, I KNOW THAT YOU ARE A STONE AND CAN NEITHER BENEFIT ANYONE NOR HARM ANYONE. Had I not seen Allah's Apostle kissing you I would not have kissed you."
Volume 2, Book 26, Number 675:
Narrated Zaid bin Aslam from his father who said: "Umar bin Al-Khattab addressed the Corner (Black Stone) saying, 'BY ALLAH! I KNOW THAT YOU ARE A STONE AND CAN NEITHER BENEFIT NOR HARM. Had I not seen the Prophet touching (and kissing) you, I would never have touched (and kissed) you.' Then he kissed it and said, 'There is no reason for us to do Ramal (in Tawaf) except that we wanted to show off before the pagans, and now Allah has destroyed them.' 'Umar added, '(Nevertheless), the Prophet did that and we do not want to leave it (i.e. Ramal).'"
MUSLIM:
Book 007, Number 2914:
Abdullah b. Sarjis reported: I saw the bald one, i. e. 'Umar b. Khattib (Allah be pleased with him). kissing the Stone and saying: BY ALLAH. I AM KISSING WITH FULL CONSCIOUSNESS OF THE FACT THAT YOU ARE A STONE AND THAT YOU CAN NEITHER DO ANY HARM NOR GOOD; and if I had not seen Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) kissing you. I would not have kissed you. The rest of the hadith is the same.
The Stone is not be worshipped or regarded as anything but a marker.
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At hajj time you are actually unlikely to see the Black Stone: Masjid Al-Haram is just two crowded. There is a line on the floor of the Masjid to tell you where the line of the Black Stone is. Many hajis must perform Tawaaf NOT on the Kaaba floor but on the SECOND OR THIRD STORIES of the Majid Al-Haram!
On Levels #2 and #3 there are both marks on the floor and neon lights to show you where to start and stop tawaaf.
The scholars agree that waving in the direction of the Black Stone is sufficient recognition of its location as the start and stop of Tawaaf.
In actuality, waving in direction of the Black Stone is the best you will probably do at hajj time
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The Black Stone has had an interesting history during the Islamic period. In 930 AD a ruler of Bahrain - who belonged to a branch of Ismailism known as the Karmatians - sacked Makkah and carried the Black Stone away for some 70 years until it was ransomed.
In the process, the Black Stone was cracked. It is now held together by a silver band. The fact that Islam was able to function without the Black Stone for 70 years is one of the best illustrations that it is but a marker for Tawaaf - and NOT an object of worship.


Muslims do not worship the black cube building (Kaaba) in Mecca.
The Prophecy of the yearly pilgrimage to Mecca in the Noble Quran.
Praying (Salah) is a must in the Noble Quran.
Learn how to pray. Detailed instructions with pictures and audio.
Can we use other than the language of Arabic when we pray to Allah Almighty?
Rebuttal to Sam Shamoun's "Stone Kissing and Idolatry" article.
10:43:28 AM
Posted By Ajmal Rashid Comments (1) Uncategorized
Comments
K.Venugopal Saturday, April 7, 2007 10:45:47 AM
The question about the black stone is why did Mohammad kiss it? No doubt he had good reasons but unfortunately he did not explain it. His successor, proving to be a blind imitator, also kissed the stone while conceding that he did not know why he is doing so except that Mohammad did it. The ritual continues to this day, all Muslims going on Hajj obliged to kiss it as a tradition, without having a clue as to why they are kissing something they do not worship.