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iTunes ChannelPucker Up! How To Kiss the Black Stone Every Time
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By Rami Elsawah
Here’s a way of kissing the black stone that I came up with during hajj many years ago. Since then, it has worked for me every single time I’ve used it. It has also worked for everyone I have ever told it to and who tried it. Best of all, you will never have to push or shove a single human being to kiss it.
Below is an illustrated guide I came up with with my mediocre Photoshop skills. If the method works for you, Alhamdullilah.
The Principle: Using Physics To End Up At The Black Stone
The whole method works around one principle: If you wait in line, and stick to the side of the kaaba, slowly inching your way forward, eventually you must end up reaching the corner (ie. the black stone). This statement may sound overly simple, but trust me, it works. You will have to wait very long, about 45 minutes to one hour, but the payoff will be amazing insha Allah (see the hadith below for why).
Preparation: You Must Be Mentally Determined To Not Turn Back
From my experience, if you want to kiss the black stone you must have a 110% intention to kiss it; meaning either you kiss the black stone or die trying. Seriously, I am not joking. But why go through all of this just to fulfill a sunnah?
The Black Stone will testify on the Day Of Judgement for those who kissed it.
It was narrated that Ibn ‘Abbaas said: 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
This hadeeth was classed as hasan by al-Tirmidhi, and as qawiy by al-Haafiz ibn Hajar in Fath al-Baari, 3/462
Touching the Stone is one of the things by means of which Allaah expiates for sins.
It was narrated that Ibn ‘Umar said: I heard 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).
Now onto the step-by-step procedure:
- When you get around the Yemeni corner, stand in line.
- Stick to the kaaba like fly paper (you can keep your left hand holding onto the kaaba, and right hand on the side pointing downwards so that you do not inadvertently push anyone).
- Go with the flow; the line will start moving forward inch by inch.
- The real fun won’t start for another 10-15 minutes, when you start to get close to the mob. So have patience, and read your adhkaar and dua so you don’t waste your time.
- As you’re getting closer to the mob, people are going to start to pushing and shoving like crazy. USE THIS TO YOUR ADVANTAGE. As long as you can stick to the side of the kaaba without getting pulled out of line or getting crushed, the directional forces will eventually push you straight towards the black stone.
- Since your right hand is at the side pointed downards, you can’t push anyone and that is good. Your only other option is to go with the flow, lower your center of gravity, and hold on dearly to the side of the kaaba with your left hand (at the base of the kaaba are rings which tie to the kiswah, you can use those rings to hold on to).
- Fulfill your duty of reminding people of patience. I find yelling out “sabr, sabr” works pretty well (everyone will understand this word, but whether they implement is a different story).
- Tell the guy standing next to you in line of this method, and he might also stop pushing and begin to do the same as you (worked with me once).
- Remember, stick to the side of the kaaba.
- As you get within feet or inches, seek refuge from shaytan and recite ayat al-kursi a lot (shaytan is probably having a field day in that area with all the things people do in that spot and how terrible they act).
- Make dua and have trust in Allah.
- Take out your right hand for safety, but don’t push anyone. Just stick to the side and eventually the people behind you are going to push you straight into the black stone.
Pucker up, grab onto the silver encasing, and kiss the black stone.
Important Note: The black stone is not the entire big black thing you see, but actually eight small pieces within it (because it was broken and damaged in the past). Make sure you actually aim right and kiss one of the actual seven stones, and not the black wax encasing. (See diagram below)
If you try this out during hajj this year, write a comment and let me know.
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I tried a few times during Umrah in the late 90’s and again during a Hajj trip in 2002.
Failed dismally – juts could not bring myself to the level of those who where kicking and punching (yes throwing hooks!) just to kiss the stone(s)
I backed off, why commit haraam (i mean physically hurting another muslim) just to commit a sunnah?
Perhaps next trip insha’allah i’ll try your strategy and hope for the best!
ps.
lol @ the smily/angry icons
Jazakum Allah Khair. May Allah may you definitely kiss it next time
-Rami
I have done umrah many times, but was only manage to kiss it once long ago, and I dont remember how I did it.
Last March when I was there, I tried it, and weird thing happened, I was just being pushed around, and suddenly some push happened that I found myself so close to it, and just one person ahead of me, so I was confident that I would be able to kiss it, yet, the same push happened again, and I found myself way back almost outside the mob. And there was some brother who said this is not islamic to fight, just raise hands towards it and move on. Hence I did that.
Insha’Allah I am going to try in hajj, although it would be much more crowded. May the force be with me.
As master Yoda once said:
“Try not. Do, or do not. There is no try.”
-Rami
I managed to touch the black stone twice (during umrah), using the same technique. As a woman, I did not even try to kiss because of all the men puckering up.
The angle for a woman is different though. As a woman, you have to come against the flow. You pass the stone and then come back to touch it. I just let myself go with the flow with one hand extended. The first time, I was able to touch it. The next time, a policeman made way for me and asked me to come and touch. I also took with me an older woman who was crying and wanted to touch the stone. Her family was asking her not to try. I took her with me and we both touched the black stone. She wanted to kiss it, but I asked her not to, because of the men. I never pushed, shoved, or hurt anyone in the process.
Sadly, a few women got into a scuffle there, and one got her hijab pulled off, which was very sad.
haha I love the diagrams mashaAllah. Jazaak Allahu khayran for the great tips. It seems pretty doable after reading the steps.
I also tried with my sister, but that was a big fail…after we saw a woman’s hijab literally ripped off, we just started to slowly walk back..
It was umrah during rajab when the haram was pretty empty. Very easy to get to but seeing that just scared us from ever trying again.
may Allah make us regular guests of His House.
I also saw some horrific things happen to sisters trying to push their way in, mostly being crushed and end up screaming out in pain. To be honest, with how cramped that space is and all the people pushing and shoving each other, any sister who tries to go will probably have men’s hands and bodies touching her, which I would not recommend.
I agree…I think it would be wise for sisters to just refrain. and Allah knows best. It’s pretty frightening that our worst harassment stories come from the Haramain.
AlHamdulillaah, I managed to kiss the Black Stone when I went for ‘Umrah in March of this year with my family and a couple of my closest friends… we had a harder time because 1) we were determined not to fight anyone, 2) we were trying really hard to stick with the women (‘cuz there’s supposed to be turns between the men and women, although this is more in theory than practice) w/o getting squished up against the guys, and 3) all three of us girls were pretty tiny!
However, being tiny can be an advantage… we clung to each other tightly and dodged under a lot of people… and then it was a matter of standing our ground until there was a tiny opening and we made our way towards it, slowly but surely, until we could touch and kiss it. AlHamdulillah!
Women usually have it easy, my wife managed to kiss blackstone, pray in hateem, and pray in riyadh-ul-jannah in Madinah, while I could not do any of those.
Al Humdulilah, great article
I was blessed to be able to kiss the black stone during Hajj. The advice here is pretty much how it worked for me… BUT I got to re-emphasize patience!
Not sure that it is easier for the sister, while I was waiting in line and getting closer I saw a sister come up from the black stone with blood gushing from her mouth, it looked like she may have had someone fall on her while she was kissing the stone. May Allah reward her and forgive all of us!
Iesa
haha, we used this method successfully so many times when we went to umrah. i personally got the chance to kiss the blackstone more than 2 times.
use this same techinique to put your hand on the yemani corner!
stay close to the kabba when you get around the area, and then move away till its time to come back inshallah.
i hope everyone gets a chance to kiss the stone, following the sunnah of Muhammad (sallahu allahi wassalam)
Nice!
-Rami
Hajj and Kissing the black stone is most definitely an epidemiological nightmare. Wouldn’t stop me from doing it though that’s for sure….
I could not help laughing at the diagrams and physics lessons! May Allah make me remember this when I make Hajj…ameen.
Guess there’s no such thing as queuing up for the Black Stone.
I have lived in Saudi for almost all my life and I haven’t been able to kiss the black stone yet. A few years ago, on the first day of Ramadan right after Taraweeh, I was determined to kiss it. Unfortunately while going to kiss it, I was pickpocketed
SubhanAllah it was a trial.
And yes I wasn’t ready for it and didn’t notice my wallet getting stolen because I wasn’t expecting it on the FIRST DAY OF RAMADAN right after TARAWEEH and just a few FEET away from the Ka’bah.
Later i realized that it was a group of people who pushed me so hard while one of their member pickpocketed me while I was distracted with the push. So thats one thing to note……..
While doing tawaf , sa’ee or in a crowd, please take care of your valuables in your pockets, or leave them in the hotel
And yes things can stolen in the hotel rooms as well so at least one person should there, or you can buy a travel safe MM mentioned in recent posts.
I have lived in Saudi for almost all my life and I haven’t been able to kiss the black stone yet.
Subhannahllah, me too. Now I am in the USA, so inshallah next time I go back for Hajj or Umrah, I will take care of that.
One more point to add, even though its Hajj season, and the Haram is likely always to be crowded, no matter what time of day, it may still be easier to get to the black stone just before or after Dhuhr time, when the temperature is in excess of 100 F. Yes, it will be really hot, but in my experience there will far fewer people at that time than in the cool evenings, like after Isha. And less people should mean less time waiting in line, Allahualim. The day is important too, because on Jumuah at Jumah time, its still going to be really crowded.
Very interesting. I must say, I didn’t know that there were virtues to the black stone besides it being a sunnah. I touched the Yemeni corner once on Eid day (although I had to remove a brother who was French kissing the Yemeni corner to do it!!). Never even attempted to touch the black stone. Insha Allah, if I get another chance I will try.
The diagrams are hilarious, masha Allah
I NEARLY kissed the Black Stone, once. I put my face into it and tried to kiss it, but got pulled back from other people. Not fair. Also, honestly speaking, it does smell a little bit in there, because the entire world has kissed it, so it smells like saliva. But don’t be put off by that.
Btw, love the diagrams with the angry faces and an innocent, happy face in the midst of them. Lol. Just a question though…why do the ‘bad’ smilies have their thumbs down?
I just tried to find angry smiley’s online and ran into this one, thought it looked funny…they them telling you “no way man, you’re not getting in here”.
-Rami
I was about to attempt the method shown above, only to get a strange look by a family member as if to say:
“You must be kidding me! ‘Queuing’? In Makkah?!! You’ll get no where!”
So i bailed out.
Next time Insha’Allah, I will be ready………………………………………….
Hehe.
May Allah make you kiss it next time bro.
-Rami
This is just sad! Why? Because I was pushed around with people dying to touch the stone. You can try and not push your way to it but the point is if you edging towards it, you are adding to problem. If everyone were to continue in their own circle, there would be little chaos – and that is Islam. The kissing of the stone is symbolic. If you were to do it from far off without adding to the chaos, I’m sure you will get way more rewarded than by adding to the problem and trying to push towards the stone.
In the end Islam is about the niyat and not your strategy to reach the stone. How about concentrate on prayers and duas instead of strategizing and slowly crawling towards the stone? I’m sure that will be rewarded more than inching your way towards it as your whole focus then is on reaching the stone and not the actual essence of the Tawaf which is a form of prayer.
Assalamu alaikum…question:
Is it the same amount of reward no matter when you kiss the black stone?
Because if so, shouldn’t it be a lot easier off-season (when its not Hajj or Ramadan time)?
I felt like I was going to die last time I tried kissing the stone…I gave up when I saw a women return looking victorious, but without her hijaab on :/ eek
And do you seriously think she got rewarded for kissing the stone by giving up her hijab?
Different rules for different times … that is why fatwas are there. Allah does not expect 20 LAC people to kiss the stone at Hajj or Umrah time. So you can do so from far off with the niyat that you’d rather concentrate on praying and not cause trouble for other muslims.
That is also the reason why the fatwa to throw stones at the devil at any time rather than just between Zuhr and Asar has been given as the ulema know that it better to do that than be responsible for the number of deaths that occur due to thousands upon thousands of people trying to follow through in a limited amount of time.
So please go do your Hajj, Umra, Tawaf but do it as a dignified muslim. Can you seriously imagine the Holy Prophet fighting his way through the crowds to kiss the stone??
I would hope that people would make way for him (s.a.w.)
But I too wonder if this is a case of placing too much emphasis on the ritual act as opposed to one’s niyah. We are permitted to simply point (with an open hand according to Muhammad Alshareef’s useful hajj flyers) to it during our tawaf…do the scholars say there is a difference in the reward for one who kisses the black stone as opposed to the one who simply points? Will the black stone still testify for those who pointed?
I find it just as crowded around the black stone during hajj and umrah both.
For sisters, I would honestly not recommend trying to kiss the stone. You will have men’s hands and bodies touching your own, and that won’t be pleasant. I wish it wasn’t true but it’s the reality I’ve seen with my own eyes.
-Rami
*victorious
I didn’t know about the fragments…
Jazakhallakhir for that!
This is one of the most random but beneficial articles I have ever read!
But after reading all the comments (i.e. hijab being ripped off, woman with gushing blood) I am terrified to do it. I am so tiny I think I would be killed in there.
This may be a stupid question, but has the Saudi gov’t ever tried to create like an organized way to kiss the black stone? Like by putting in a line que or something? (I’ve never been to hajj/umrah before so I have no idea)
Imagine how much better it would be if everyone got to do it with ease and in an orderly fashion
You are in for a shock then. There is hardly room to breathe…forget room to make a queue. Not to mention it is impossible to do so for 1000s of people at the same time who better keep moving so the other 1000s of people waiting can enter the tawaf.
It is so packed at times that once I felt my rib cage would crack … people were pushing that hard. It was a task just getting out of that crowd and going to one of the other floors for tawaf. There just wasn’t space on the ground floor.
None of this mess would occur if people would behave like muslims and move in a line in their own circle. The whole chaos arises because of people using the so called strategies above to get to the stone. Causing problems for everyone is not a part of Islam.
Tawaf-e-Wida is the most packed as over 24 lac people doing tawaf in just 3 days. If you are not going for the ground floor and it isn’t too hot then the top floor is the best option. Some room to breathe and fresh air. Second floor is the hardest as there are too many wheel chair people being pushed and not going in the wheel chair path and whizzing past, quite blindly, I might add. I saw one hit a girl and saw her leave a trail of blood. So be careful there.
But in the end braving that chaos is worth it because it doesn’t matter … in the end it is all about this square building covered in black cloth which will the most amazing sight you will ever place your eyes on. .And nothing will ever compare to the peace you will feel. And in that moment you will want nothing else for everything anyone can ever want is right there.
subhanAllah, see i would rec’d the 2nd floor for tawaf al-wida’a and with a wheelchair! its the BEST place because you get to keep your eyes ALWAYS on the Kaaba. i pushed 2 kids, my husband pushed another. sure it was the longest tawaf ever (nearly 4 hours), it was hot, but 1/2 of which was shade. but if we didn’t have the w/cs we wouldnt have the opportunity to have our eyes on the Kaaba the whole time. they gave out umbrellas so we had them over our childrens heads. the top floor would mean we would see the Kaaba every now and then, and the bottom -ground floor we’d be fighting for our lives with the kids
but the 2nd floor there is a path right at the edge just for the wheelchairs which means front row tickets to the Kaaba so when things got exhausting, a quick glance was always guaranteed for motivation to keep going and a blessing that one’s eyes..and inshaAllah ones heart can be permanently attached with thikr constant. a quick glance to the serene sky imagining that the Angels of Allah are doing tawaf at Bait al-Mamur and knowing that the Arsh of Allah is directly above us.
i will agree though that those with a wheelchairs who are not in that path does make it very difficult to move, but if you can get into the edges of the 2nd floor that would be the easiest and best place to be inshaAllah.
may Allah facilitate ease for those who go..don’t forget the Ummah in your duaa..we are all rootin’ for you!!
your sis in Islam.
I remember joking with some people what it would be like if Americans ran the haram.
You would probably indeed then see an organized line for the black stone, but you would probably also see advertisements on the kaaba too. =)
-Rami
Prescription drug advertisements.
I thought about this as well but then both me and my wife agreed that in the end, there’s a wisdom behind why Allah has chosen Saudis to host this Hajj. I don’t think Americans would have been able to handle this chaos year after year and with so much passion. MashaAllah, I must say that every time I have gone for Hajj…the hospitality of the locals has increased.
Asalamu-alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh!
indescribable!
sigh…soooo close! i hope i get to kiss it next time inshaAllah inshaAllah!!!!!
Awesome article mashaAllah! jazakAllah khair!
My parents and i went for umrah in may this year ( my first time).
It was SO amazing!
i mean…i don’t think there’s any word in any language that can describe how/what you feel when you go there! SubhanAllah its…..somethin else
Okay so we tried going near the black stone and i could actually feel my ribs being crushed lol! i stretched my arm almostttt touched it but got pulled back by all those people
y’know i really wish we could make queues that’d be ideal!
Hilarious diagrams Rami…ma sha Allah GREAT work
Some nice advice, but I must admit that I’ve hardly managed to kiss the Black Stone more than a dozen times or so. It’s really, really time-consuming and causes much emotional distress, seeing people act so unIslamically just turns me off from even trying.
Best advice: spend a weeknight on an off-season day, and try kissing it in the middle of the night, before Fajr by two hours. Perfect time for worship, salat, and tawaaf
Yasir
Would you recommend in the days IMMEDIATELY after Hajj?
It’s still pretty crowded immediately after Hajj…after a month or so it gets better but it’s impossible to get Umrah visas since the embassy opens around 4-5 months after the Hajj…
Another time in which the tawaaf area can almost be clear is on a weekday, off-season at Dhuhr time when it’s very sunny.
Right before Maghrib, between Maghrib and ‘Isha and after Fajr are usually the most crowded times for tawaaf.
Another time in which the tawaaf area can almost be clear is on a weekday, off-season at Dhuhr time when it’s very sunny.
Right before Maghrib, between Maghrib and ‘Isha and after Fajr are usually the most crowded times for tawaaf.
I second that.
Salaam.
It’s easier to get near the black stone in the non-Hajj season. If you go for Umrah in off-season times and then do tawaf when there’s little rush (e.g., the early hours of the night before the crowds descend, or around mid-day), it’s quite easy.
I don’t think I would try to get near the black stone during Hajj. Most times (during Hajj or Ramadhan) we’ve done tawaaf in the outermost circles of the mutaaf and I remember it would be impossible to get near the Kaaba. Too much of a rush.
[On a different note, I didn't think the title of this post was very dignified in relation to the topic being discussed.
"Pucker up"? Oh, please. *rolls eyes*]
I think we don’t have to be so uptight. What is wrong with puckering up if it is for the right cause?
asalaam alaikum warahmat Allah wabarakatu:
ok. first id like to say jazakAllah kheir for the advice given in this post. BUT with all due respect what you’ve offered doesn’t always work. especially if you are a sister. forget about it. there’s usually a line of brothers and dangerously emotional brothers who are at each others necks in line and all around hajar al-aswad. it just doesn’t fly for women..not at all.
what’s much easier than kissing the black stone, is actually praying in the KAABA! that’s right my Ummah, try for Hijr Ismail..praying there is as if you are praying within the Kaaba because it is literally part of its foundation. don’t do this during the prescribed rites of Umrah or a Hajj..because you need to follow the Sunnah of those acts, but do it during an optional tawaf if you can.
another thing id like to mention it is not sunnah to even touch the Kaaba, and it is considered a bida’a to do so aside from Rukn al-Yamani (Yemeni corner) and the Black Stone. i see too much innovations going on. even by Makam Ibrahim where we need to pray 2 rakat ..people drape their bodies all over the windows which peak into the footsteps of Prophet Ibrahim in a totally innovative way at times..again out of their emotional love in pleasing Allah- but this is not the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad salAllahu alayhee wasalam.
also, the men guards hanging at Hajar al-Aswad are there (literally leaning on a hook rope while trying to push the heads of men who refuse to leave the Sacred Stone once they get there. there is never a calm presence there and it can be very dangerous, not only for women but for men too. if you remember that immediately to the right of it is the Door of the Kaaba, which means there are always people leaning their bodies against it trying to reach the Door of Bait Allah. sometimes women get in there, and sometimes they have to be squeezed through men to do it which is a huge NO in the sight of Allah. having said that though, there is often a weak small number of women at the Black stone eagerly waiting for the hundreds of brothers to step back and let us in!! its those times women are pleading to the men guards as described above to make way for the sisters. sometimes it is ignored, sometimes its facilitated.
also, to be determined in getting to the Black Stone doesn’t cut it. ive known people who’ve always been determined but a way was never made for them. as anything else that is given to us in this life, a kiss to the Black Stone is a gift a blessing..but also a BIG test from Allah. will it humble us or make us more arrogant, will wee seek it through halal ways of patience and good manners or are we going to shove our ways through whatever gender we come across and let aggression be our guide towards it?
honestly, the best way to get to Hajar alAswad and have it accepted by Allah is by following the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad pbuh, remembering that the best of us in our Ummah are those with best manners, and being grateful enough that we under ALLAH”S THRONE! under Bait alMamur, on the center of the Earth!! because what good would it be to get to the Black Stone if it would just cause you sins and not ajr?
sincerity, duaa, asking Allah for forgiveness, patience, trust in Allah, and charity all are good things to do in presenting your case to Allah that you want the Black Stone. and really if all those are in check..you don’t even have to try to get their..Allah will place you right there, right infront- even if you forgot to duaa for that particular blessing. because Allah knows what is in our innerselves better than we ourselves claim to know.
all good comes from Allah..instead of trying to get to the Black Stone, try to do the right thing while there, and inshaAllah you’ll all find yourselves there..and be content if you make it into Hijri Ismail, and that Allah has chosen you to be in the best place of this donia, Masjid al-Haram..Makkah Mukarramah.
may Allah reward you all and a Hajj Mabroor to all the Hujjaj..
your sister in Islam.
I also hope everyone knows that once you are doing your tawaf, you should neither have your back towards the Ka’bah, nor should you face it. From what we were told it is biddat to do that. In other words the way dictated by God is to move in your circle looking straight in front of you.
Great Article! Insha Allah, I will try it one day. I have been for Umrah seven times but have never been able to kiss the stone! (I did pray Fajr in the front Saff multipletimes though, perhaps I should write a post on tipsto do that) The closest I got to kissing the tone was when i was a few centimetres away from it, getting smashed between some big men, my arm almost snapped when it got tangled between some people, and then I saw a man do an elbowdrop of the side of the kabah onto the others, thats when I decided to retreat!
I wrote a post on how to pray in the front Saff in Makkah (won’t work Hajj season though). Please visit my blog and check it out.
Jazakllah Khair