KISSING OF BLACK STONE
Salim narrated on the authority of his father (Allah be pleased with him) that “Umar Bin Al Khattab (Allah be pleased with him) kissed the Black stone and then said: By Allah I know that you are a stone and if I were not to see Allah’s Messenger (S.A.W.) kissing you, I would not have kissed you”. (Saheeh Muslim)
“KAABA” the apex of the Pilgrims desires, is a square building standing in the shape of a perfect cube, entirely covered with black brocade, a quiest island in the vast quadrangle of the mosque; It would almost appear that he who first built the Kaaba since the time of Prophet Ibraheem (Peace be upon him) the original structure has been rebuilt several times in the same shape, wanted to create a prable of mans humility before God.
The interior, usually closed is very simple. The interior has no special significance of its own, for the sanctity of the Kaaba applies to the whole building, which is Qibla-that is, the direction of prayer for the entire Islamic world. It is toward this symbol of God’s Oneness that hundreds of million of Muslims the world over turn their faces in prayer five times a day.
The two corners situated on the side of the Yemen are called Al-Ruknain al Yamaniyyain and the two corners situated on the side of Syria are called Ruknain al Shamiyyain. The corners situated on the side of Yemen (east) are touched. It is one of these two corners that there is embedded a blackish stone, which is left uncovered and is surrounded by a braed silver frame.
“The black stone” which has been kissed by many generations of pilgrims, has been the cause of much misunderstanding among non-Muslims, who believe it to be a fetish taken over by Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) as a concession to the pagan Makkans. Nothing could be farther from truth. Just as the Kaaba is an object of reverence but not of a worship, so too is the black stone. It is revered as the only remnant of Prophet Abraham, original building, and because the lips of Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) touched it on his Farewell Pilgrimage, all pilgrims have doen the same ever since. The Holy Prophet was well aware that all the later generations of the Faithful would always follow his example; and when he kissed the stone he knew that on it the lips of future pilgrims wrould forever meet the memory of his lips in the symbolic embrance he has offered, beyond time and beyond death, to his entire community. And the pilgrims, when they kiss the Black stone, feel that they are embracing the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) and all other Muslims who have been here before them and those who will come after them.