The Stone Of Heaven-Hajr-E-Aswad

Hajr-e-Aswad-the Stone of Heaven:

The sacred Hajr-e-Aswad also is known as Black Stone is placed on the eastern side of the holy Kabah. The stone was gifted to Prophet Ibrahim (AS). It was brought from the Heavens. When Allah gifted the stone, its color was white than that of milk. However, because of the sins of people, the stone has become black in color.

As per a narration, when Prophet Ibrahim (AS) and Prophet Ismael (AS) were doing the construction of Holy Kabah, they were short of one stone. Prophet Ibrahim (AS) asked Prophet Ismael (AS) to go and find one stone. He could not find any. When he returned, he found that the empty place in the wall was occupied with a stone. He asked his father about the stone. Prophet Ibrahim told him that Hazrat Gabriel (AS) had come to gift him this stone.

Once the renovation of Holy Kabah took place during the lifetime of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). This was about five years before the prophethood was revealed to him. A dispute arose among the leaders of different tribes of Quraish as to who will put the stone of Heaven at its place. The dispute was so fierce that people were ready to shed each other’s blood. Just then Abu Umayya Ibn al-Mugheera suggested that the decision of the first person to enter through Bani Shaibah gate shall be accepted unanimously.

The first person who entered through the gate was the beloved Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Everyone respected the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and acknowledged his righteousness. He decided in favor of all the tribes and came up with a solution that was best for all. He placed the Stone of Heaven in the center of a sheet of cloth. Then he called the leaders of different tribes to hold the corners of the sheet and raise it close to the place where it was supposed to be placed. At that moment Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) held the stone in his noble hands and placed it at its position. This is how our Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) resolved a dispute amicably which could have been a deadly war.

Blessings of the Stone of Heaven:

There are immense blessings of the stone of Heaven. Tawaf around the Holy Kabah begins and completes while facing this reverent stone. This shows the great importance Allah has given to the stone of Heaven. People make prayers at the site of Hajr-e-Aswad as Allah accepts the prayers at this place. The blessings of Hajr-e-Aswad are so vast that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) told his companions that had Allah not hidden the radiance of the stone it would have enlightened everything within the limit of East and the West.

Kissing the Stone of Heaven:

 It is sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) to kiss the Stone of Heaven. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) told that on the Day of Judgment, the Black Stone will have eyes and a tongue that would testify in favor of all those who kissed it. However, it must be noted that kissing the stone is only following the act of sunnah. It must not be confused with idolatry, for the foundation of Islam is Oneness of Allah.

Another important thing is when the stone of Heaven is crowded by pilgrims and you are not able to get near to it, you must not push or hurt anyone in order to come closer. This would not cause any good, rather Allah prohibits one from hurting his creations in any way. When the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was not able to come closer to Hajr-e-Aswad, he pointed towards it to show his respect. This means when you are not able to come close to the stone you can point towards it from distance to show your reverence. That is also a form of sunnah.