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Pucker Up! How To Kiss the Black Stone Every Time

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By RE

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:
kaaba1

  1. When you get around the Yemeni corner, stand in line.
  2. 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).

kaaba2

  1. Go with the flow;  the line will start moving forward inch by inch.
  2. 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.

kaaba3

  1. 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.
  2. 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).
  3. 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).
  4. 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).
  5. Remember, stick to the side of the kaaba.

kaaba4

  1. 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).
  2. Make dua and have trust in Allah.
  3. 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.

kaaba5Pucker 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)


hajar-aswad

If you try this out during hajj this year, write a comment and let me know.

86 Comments

86 Comments

  1. naeem

    November 12, 2009 at 4:05 AM

    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

    • Aysha

      June 3, 2017 at 11:47 AM

      Salaam,

      I will be frank I went with my husband and what the men get up to there is disgustuing, many men will grope you, and sexually harass you, I have to make this clear to all the sisters going, don’t think that becuase you are there the men will not resort to this. 1000s of woman reqularly get groped and sexually harrassed there I do not agree with this article it just puts sisters at risk.

      When I tried to kiss the stone, I was groped by many men some even pushing up very close to me, and kissing me on the back of my neck or trying to lift my clothes up touching my breasts and not letting go, and even the vagnal area too was grabbed I was unable to get out of this place and I was stuck becuase the men would keep groping me and pushing me back just for their own sexual satisfaction.

      For a long time I decided not to mention this eventually when I mentioned it to other sisters many reported similar if not worse stories my husband has been very supportive, I advice all sisters stay away and don’t get caught up.

      I wish more sisters would speak the truth about the groping and sexual harrasment, rather than playing it down as “pushing/shoving” please speak the truth you know it is sexual in nature what they do why try to hide it how will you explain marks on your body to you husband where your breasts have been grabbed and other parts of your body it isn’t worth it.

  2. Hassan

    November 12, 2009 at 6:49 AM

    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.

    • Rami

      November 13, 2009 at 9:25 AM

      As master Yoda once said:

      “Try not. Do, or do not. There is no try.”

      -Rami

      • shahgul

        November 15, 2009 at 1:02 AM

        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.

  3. Amatullah

    November 12, 2009 at 8:22 AM

    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.

    • Amatullah

      November 13, 2009 at 10:48 AM

      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.

      • Matthew

        February 17, 2011 at 9:26 AM

        Sad… what kind of “religion” allows this behavior toward it’s women.

        • Shibli Zaman

          February 17, 2011 at 11:06 AM

          Matthew, this is innate human behavior and no one religion is responsible for the ugliness that can manifest from our base instincts. Religion, be it Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, etc, seeks to control those instincts.

          So when I watch the news and see a Church Pastor arrested for molesting little boys and girls, I don’t blame Christianity. I blame the base animalistic desires that Christianity (and almost all religions) are wont to curtail.

      • Imran

        March 13, 2016 at 1:03 PM

        well said Shibli bro. jazakAllah

      • Abu Haqq

        July 14, 2016 at 10:37 AM

        Of course you can’t blame Christianity because Christ wasn’t a paedophile. People in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones. The holy one mad intercorse with a child. This is far worse than base animalistic desire- animals don’t have sex with children.

      • hana

        October 12, 2016 at 3:58 AM

        I had a completely different experience trying to kiss the black stone as a sister.
        It was my last day in Mecca and I resolved to try to just touch the stone before leaving, but without any shoving or pushing or fighting. so I stood near the back and as you mentioned, the crowd (of ladies) slowly inched me forward. before I knew it, I was standing right in front of the stone, at a loss of what to do because of the sea of men in front of me pushing and shoving to get to it. and I remember thinking, “oh my”. I think a brother must have seen the expression on my face, because one of the brothers right in front suddenly stuck his hand out, holding the other men back and saying smth about the allowing the muslimah a chance and yelling out sabr! muslimah! and the men actually paused in their shoving!! the ladies had a go, no shoving, and I kissed it, said a quick doa, and left again. the brothers only showed the utmost respect for women and I will always be grateful for that. :)

  4. AnonyMouse

    November 12, 2009 at 8:32 AM

    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!

    • Hassan

      November 12, 2009 at 10:17 AM

      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.

      • Iesa Galloway

        November 12, 2009 at 4:56 PM

        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

  5. Babar Khan

    November 12, 2009 at 9:07 AM

    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)

    • Rami

      November 13, 2009 at 9:09 AM

      Nice!

      -Rami

  6. Yus from the Nati

    November 12, 2009 at 11:35 AM

    Hajj and Kissing the black stone is most definitely an epidemiological nightmare. Wouldn’t stop me from doing it though that’s for sure….

  7. Ahmed

    November 12, 2009 at 12:02 PM

    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.

  8. what

    November 12, 2009 at 2:58 PM

    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.

    • Habeeb

      November 12, 2009 at 4:19 PM

      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.

      • Matthew

        February 17, 2011 at 9:29 AM

        next time you go back, stay back. we dont want you or the filthy “religion” you represent here. I can only hope is that God will destroy you in heaven, and show you the true face of your practices. You have to be blind not to see them

        • Shibli Zaman

          February 17, 2011 at 11:13 AM

          Matthew, who is this “we” you speak of? America was founded upon principles of an indiscriminate religious and ethnic pluralism. So I think you’re better of stating “I don’t want, etc.”

          Furthermore, to your second point, I don’t think God will be destroying anything or anyone in Heaven (Luke 20:36).

  9. aarij

    November 12, 2009 at 4:42 PM

    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 :)

  10. ummaasiyah

    November 12, 2009 at 5:16 PM

    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.

  11. ummaasiyah

    November 12, 2009 at 5:19 PM

    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?

  12. Suhaib

    November 12, 2009 at 5:37 PM

    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………………………………………….

  13. Em

    November 12, 2009 at 5:51 PM

    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.

  14. sis

    November 12, 2009 at 10:07 PM

    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

    • Em

      November 12, 2009 at 10:46 PM

      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??

      • Ahmed

        November 13, 2009 at 1:11 AM

        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?

  15. sis

    November 12, 2009 at 10:16 PM

    *victorious

  16. ASAWB

    November 12, 2009 at 11:03 PM

    I didn’t know about the fragments…

    Jazakhallakhir for that!

  17. Muslim Girl

    November 13, 2009 at 5:48 AM

    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 :P

    • Em

      November 13, 2009 at 6:13 AM

      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.

      • muhajjirah

        November 14, 2009 at 3:06 PM

        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.

    • Rami

      November 13, 2009 at 9:22 AM

      If other people were running the management of Mecca, you would probably actually see an organized line for the black stone.

      -Rami

      • Amatullah

        November 13, 2009 at 2:11 PM

        Prescription drug advertisements.

      • AbuUmar

        November 15, 2009 at 2:33 AM

        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.

  18. Mehru

    November 13, 2009 at 12:30 PM

    Asalamu-alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh!
    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 :) indescribable!
    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 :( sigh…soooo close! i hope i get to kiss it next time inshaAllah inshaAllah!!!!!
    y’know i really wish we could make queues that’d be ideal!

  19. Yasir Qadhi

    November 13, 2009 at 12:56 PM

    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 :D

    Yasir

    • ummaasiyah

      November 13, 2009 at 1:40 PM

      Would you recommend in the days IMMEDIATELY after Hajj?

      • AbuUmar

        November 15, 2009 at 2:34 AM

        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…

  20. ursister

    November 13, 2009 at 2:15 PM

    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.

    • Habeeb

      November 13, 2009 at 2:49 PM

      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.

  21. mummyjaan

    November 14, 2009 at 5:15 AM

    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*]

    • shahgul

      November 17, 2009 at 11:48 PM

      I think we don’t have to be so uptight. What is wrong with puckering up if it is for the right cause?

  22. muhajjirah

    November 14, 2009 at 2:55 PM

    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.

    • Matthew

      February 17, 2011 at 9:31 AM

      “All good comes from Allah?”

      Are you kidding me? tell me how kissing a rock, that results in violence is good.

      • Shibli Zaman

        February 17, 2011 at 11:18 AM

        Matthew, no violence results from the tradition of kissing the black stone. Again, it is a mere tradition, albeit a coveted one, and not an obigatory tenet of Islam.

        At Hajj time there are approximately 5 million or so people all gathered in one place. In spite of those large numbers, there is never any violence. People don’t fight or hurt each other intentionally. Nonetheless, with such a mass crowd of people, unintentional harm does occur, as well as harm that occurrs due to some people’s carelessness and disregard for others. Again, this is human nature. If you wish to contend with this, please do the research and come back to us with what you find. Keep in mind: 5 million or more people gathering in one place every year for 1500 years. How many incidents of violence will you find? You will be amazed at the absence of any rancour.

        When you have that many people in one place, it is ridiculous to assume that each and every person is going to be a perfect Muslim and follow everything in the religion as they should.

  23. Em

    November 15, 2009 at 1:37 AM

    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.

  24. Abu Muawiyah

    November 18, 2009 at 3:32 AM

    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!

  25. Abu Muawiyah

    November 20, 2009 at 12:56 AM

    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

  26. Pingback: Good Deed: #77 Kiss the Hajre Aswad | 1000 Good Deeds

  27. amad

    March 29, 2010 at 9:55 AM

    I did it, did it, did it :)
    Rami, u should copyright ur method. Though I took so much confidence in it that I took my 10 year old and my 10 yr nephew with me… and all 3 of us were pinned to the kabba… i had to create a gap between the kaba and me to give the 2 breathing space and used every bit of my muscle power (thats not too much btw) to keep that gap.. Eventually all 3 of us got to kiss the stone, following the method exactly (no pushing) but buyer-beware! You have to be reasonably fit and don’t take your kids!

    You got some of the ajar Rami and this is a testimony to the method working :)

  28. Pingback: Umrah Road-Trip to Makkah & Madinah | MuslimMatters.org

  29. Azeem

    April 28, 2010 at 2:05 AM

    I can attest to this method being the best possible one. I learned this in high school in our cafeteria and have used it on Black Friday and last month I used it to kiss the black stone! It was very hectic and literally bone crushing. At one point A scream erupted out of me because my entire body was being crushed from all sides.

    Umrah visas opened up recently so it was crazy busy. The ideal time to go was between 11 PM and 3 AM. You have to avoid the Post-Isha and the Tajahudd/Fajr Rush. I would also not do this while in ihram, do it when you are doing your nawafal tawaf since it takes up so much time and energy.

    I came into the haram and made duah that if this was good for me and If I was not going to do anything haram like trip an old woman then I asked Allah (S) to help me make it happen. I cut across the traffic right to the line and I did exactly what this described. The guy right in front of me on line was a big Turkish man. When he got his kiss in and tried to get out I slipped right in front of him and it give me a clean 2 seconds to get my kiss in. After that all hell broke loose. Kissing it, as hard as it was, was much easier than getting out. The guy who kissed it after me had cut like anything so everyone was pushing him hard since they were pissed at him I got right behind him and pushed like I was the silver surfer and he was my surf board.

  30. Shibli Zaman

    May 29, 2010 at 11:36 AM

    as-salamu `alaykum,

    I am in Mecca right now and I was able to kiss Hajar al-Aswad this morning, al-hamdu lillah. Right now it is jam packed and the people making Tawaf reach up to the steps. This method can work, but it will not work every time. I tried this yesterday and was able to reach out and touch the stone, but immediately the wave of people pushed me back. This morning after Fajr I was able to kiss it, al-hamdu lillah. Its purely the Will of Allah.

    The way people behave is disgusting though. The men will press up against the ladies without regard for them and often times even end up hitting them with their elbows. It makes no sense to me. Severely hurting your brothers and sisters, not just bodily, but breaking their hearts and spirits, in order to do something that is supposed to expiate for your sins? Seriously, people don’t even behave like that center stage floor at a Heavy Metal concert. Are we content that the greatest gathering for the sake of Allah behaves worse than a gathering for Metallica?

    The way people act at the Yemeni corner is equally ridiculous. Its like they figure, “Well I can’t get to Hajar al-Aswad, so let me pretend like this is Hajar al-Aswad and make out with this corner of bricks right here for 15 minutes.”

    I have found that the best time to do it is after Fajr as that seems to be the ONLY time that the people actually stand in line and don’t violate it for the most part. People think that going after `Isha is a good time to go because the weather is better and its late at night. You know what? Everyone else thinks that too. This makes it one of the worst times to go. I am going to go at around 2:00am tonight to see how the crowd is. Khayr, insha’ Allah.

    was-salam

    • Amad

      May 29, 2010 at 11:39 AM

      umrah mabruk Shibli…

      some say that after dhuhr is also good as it’s very hot and so people tend to stay away.

      • Shibli Zaman

        May 29, 2010 at 12:22 PM

        Amad, jazakumullahu khayran, bro. What you say about going after Dhuhr is true, but it seems to be a very small window. Around 1 hour before `Asr (as is the case 1 hour before every obligatory Salah), people start flooding in. As you know very well, the sun here is brutal and you can dehydrate very quickly without even realizing it before its too late. But no one cares. People are still jamming the entire Haram area even at the hottest parts of the day. Some might be annoyed by the crowds, but, subhan Allah, if one tries to look at it from a more positive angle, the increasing zeal of the Muslims is a beautiful thing.

        Also, what brother Rami says about reminding the people to have patience and remember Allah is the best advice. People get happy to hear you saying that, and I have found that they start helping you reach the Black Stone.

        Another thing worth mentioning is that the scholars of Fiqh say to rub the stone with one’s hand as well as kiss it. Ibn Qudamah says (ثم أتى الحجر الأسود إن كان فاستلمه إن استطاع‏,‏ وقبله. معنى ‏”‏استلمه‏”‏ أي مسحه بيده) “Then approach the Black Stone, rub it if possible and kiss it. The meaning of ‘astalamahu’ means to rub it with one’s hand.”

        was-salam

      • Shibli Zaman

        May 29, 2010 at 7:51 PM

        UPDATE: I went today at 2:30AM and it was significantly easier, but not “easy” by any stretch. However, I would strongly recommend sisters and families go at this time. You can go there a little earlier like 1:45AM, pray Tahiyyah, pray a little Tahajjud, ask Allah to make it easy for you and give it your best shot.

        Also, I discovered a very critical tip. DO NOT WEAR SOCKS!!! It becomes completely impossible to hold your ground if you are wearing socks. I realized too late that I was wearing socks and inadvertently ended up literally doing the “moon walk” several times right when I was 2 feet away from the Black Stone.

        Jazah Allahu khayran to brother Rami for this nice blog. The bottom line is that it works, ma sha’ Allah.

        was-salam

        • Amad

          May 30, 2010 at 1:32 AM

          jazakallahkahir Shibli for the updates… it’s good you are preserving these ideas when still fresh in your memory…

          re: moonwalk… that’s funny you mentioned it. My wife and I were tired of carrying our little 4-year old, so she basically sat on her knees and we just slid her around… she had a blast!

  31. muuni

    August 14, 2010 at 6:24 AM

    i shall try it when i go umrah i.A..

  32. mrs khalida khanam ali

    March 24, 2011 at 5:07 AM

    Assalamoalaikum-warahmatulla-wabarakatohu
    I have throughly laughed and enjoyed reading your advise in touching atleast the hajr-e-aswad. I have just returned from Umrah with my husband, and i am recovering from the trip. I haven’t even been out since my body is so aching from soving and pushing, during and after touching the ‘STONE’.
    Your tactictics are exactly what my husband used to get me there. He didn’t bother himself doing it as he was just procting me from pushing. During all this he lost is Ehram then he just managed to pull it up by his feet. I wear glasses and during all this he told me to take it off but i just couldn’t. Although it is a good advise for glass wearers. After we came out my white hejab was yellow i still haven’t washed it yet and it smells devine. Another thing i noticed when i took my glasses off i could see the Kabba even more clearly
    where as i thought i won’t beable to. But allhamdullilah we enjoyed our Umra throughly and hope Allah-subhana-talla invites us again soon for Hajj and all the Muslims of the world. Where else will we see all the proud Muslimms of the world. Jazakalla.

  33. Dayang

    May 21, 2011 at 3:44 AM

    Reading this post and the comments was fun.=) So many ways,just to avoid the ‘unislamic attitudes’, inside the house of Allah.Ironic.
    It also brought back the memories I had when I tried kissing hajarul aswad during my umrah last year.I did it on my last day there.There is actually a ‘service’ by a group of ladies (mainly by Southeast Asian for SEA) to help you get through the crowds.They would usually hang around the stone area.They surrounded me and helped me pushed through the crowds until I get to the stone.People was pushing so super ‘hard’ and I have NEVER felt anything like it.But once you get your chance,I couldnt feel the chaos around me and I didnt even feel the struggle when I got out from the crowd.I guess I was speechless.I
    didnt know that it is a sunnah to actually touch and kiss it.My curiosity is what drove me to see and kiss it.If I had known it,I think I would appreciate it more.But Alhamdulillah still.Oh,I so hope that I got another chance to go there again.Would like to try this method=)

  34. Udd268

    May 8, 2012 at 3:18 PM

    Please comment below when I went to umrah this year 2012 and kissed the stone from my mouth I spoke the name of ALLAH straight after kissing the stone I just could not controll
    Myself saying the word ALLAH i stopped saying it after a while when I got back to
    The hotel I shouted the word ALLAH I could not control myself I had a drink in my hand and spilled the energy drink all over my clothes after a while I stopped this stone has some supernatural powers this made me very closer to my religion please comment what u think
    Happened to me

  35. Want to know an even easier way to kiss it?

    October 16, 2012 at 9:36 PM

    Took me a total of 14 minutes to go up to the tawaf crowd from the stairs, get to hijr e aswad, kiss it and finally make it back to the stairs. How I did? EASY!

    1) Instead of going from the left side of the stone, go from the other side

    2) Get to the rukn e yamani

    3) Stay very close to the side of the kaaba

    4) Pass hijr e aswad (yess pass it by)

    5) As soon as you pass it, start moving towards the door of kaaba

    6) Get close to the kaaba and start moving towards the stone while holding on to the platform that the security guy is standing on.

    7) Don’t lose hope or give up. You either do it or you dont. I told myself that I will not leave untill i have kissed it.

    8) Slowly slowly you’ll keep moving up to the right side of the stone. Keep in mind that you must be holding on to the platform under the security guy or else you’ll get pushed back out.

    9) You will eventually find yourself right beside the stone but alotta ppl will be trying to kiss it from the other side so just wait (doesnt matter how long you have to wait, you are not going to leave without kissing it, remember?)

    10) There will be moments when the space in front of the stone will just get open and you just gotta go in and kiss it.

    11) Get the hell out once your done or you’ll get pushed out

    12) Enjoy (You gotta enjoy!)

    And remember kids, do not push!

    Note: I tried kissing it everyday for a whole month and I was convinced that I wouldnt be able to but on the last day, the day i was leaving to back to my country I told myself this might be the last time you are witnessing this glory right here so this is your last chance and there you go! takes determination. My cousin who went with me did it 7 times using this way…………..

  36. Mohsin

    October 18, 2012 at 4:20 AM

    Alhamdulillah I touched it exactly a week before 8th of zulhajj

  37. Uthman

    December 25, 2012 at 5:25 PM

    how hard can it be for a sister? Trying to mob her way in with hijab on, only to lose hijab and then some brothers and sisters will say ” is she really victorious without her hijab?” Can all brothers try wear the hijab and burqa as well for life and tell us how easy life is for women? The mob is clearly not peaceful. Some died. Bloodied. What kind is that? Won’t try it so as not to lose my hijab

  38. Zahoor

    May 17, 2013 at 3:31 PM

    Assalam o Aliakum
    Hajj literally means, “to continuously strive to reach one’s goal.” The Hajj, or Pilgrimage to Mecca, is a once-in-a-lifetime obligation for those who have the physical and financial ability to undertake the journey.

    The Hajj is essentially a re-enactment of the rituals of the great prophets and teachers of faith. Pilgrims symbolically relive the experience of exile and atonement undergone by Adam and Eve after they were expelled from Heaven, wandered the earth, met again and sought forgiveness in the valley of Mecca. They also retrace the frantic footsteps of the wife of Abraham, Hagar, as she ran between the hills of Safa and Marwa searching for water for her thirsty baby (which according to Muslim tradition, God answered with the well of Zam Zam). Lastly, the pilgrims also commemorate the willingness of Abraham to sacrifice his son for the sake of God. God later substituted a ram in place of his son.

    Performing the rituals of Hajj provides a reminder of how the great prophets and teachers of faith established a deep and personal relationship with God. As the pilgrim makes his supplications to God, he realizes that He is asking of the same God that answered the prayers of those before him. These reminders are an important part of strengthening one’s faith, trust and dependence in God.

    The faithful hope that the Hajj will bring about a deep spiritual transformation, one that will make him or her a better person. If such a change from within does not occur, then the Hajj was merely a physical and material exercise devoid of any spiritual significance. As all great religions teach, we are more than mere physical creatures in that we possess an essence beyond the material world. Indeed, this is why all great religions have a tradition of pilgrimage. In the Islamic tradition, Hajj encapsulates this spiritual journey toward this essence. Hajj teaches one to show sincerity and humility in one’s relationship with God. The result of a successful Hajj is a rich inner peace, which is manifested outwardly in the values of justice, honesty, respect, generosity, kindness, forgiveness, mercy and empathy.

  39. sidd

    July 28, 2013 at 3:28 PM

    Assalamu Alaikum…..my brother is there right now…Ramadhan 2013. Seven people are in his group. All 7 went to make Tawaaf and he said the crowd just parted for them. Their toes touched the Kaabah for all 7 rounds and they even got to touch the black stone. Alhumdulillah!

  40. Ali

    August 12, 2013 at 10:12 AM

    Great idea…but can we just not have an orderly queue? This will give all a chance, young and old, male and female without the agression.

  41. Inqiyaad

    October 15, 2013 at 11:07 PM

    @Larry

    Allâh! Lâ ilahâ illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He), the Ever Living, the One Who sustains and protects all that exists. (Al-Qur’an, 3:2).

    This is the crux of our religion, repeated numerous times throughout the Qur’an, and delivered to us by the truthful and trustworthy messenger, Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) who expended his efforts and life to deliver this message.

    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.” Sahih al Bukhari, Volume: 2, Book Number: 26, Hadith Number: 667.

    The narrations you cited, do not in any way suggest that Muslims actually worship it. The earth and our limbs both of which witness our deeds will speak on the day of Judgment to testify for or against us, but lack any apparent power of speech at present. Similarly, the black stone doesn’t speak now but if we emulate the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), it will testify on our behalf. Now,

    “So if they dispute with you (Muhammad SAW) say: “I have submitted myself to Allâh (in Islâm), and (so have) those who follow me.” And say to those who were given the Scripture (Jews and Christians) and to those who are illiterates (Arab pagans): “Do you (also) submit yourselves (to Allâh in Islâm)?” If they do, they are rightly guided; but if they turn away, your duty is only to convey the Message; and Allâh is All-Seer of (His ) slaves[] (20) Verily! Those who disbelieve in the Ayât (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) of Allâh and kill the Prophets without right, and kill those men who order just dealings, … then announce to them a painful torment. (21) They are those whose works will be lost in this world and in the Hereafter, and they will have no helpers. (22) Have you not seen those who have been given a portion of the Scripture? They are being invited to the Book of Allâh to settle their dispute, then a party of them turn away, and they are averse. (23) This is because they say: “The Fire shall not touch us but for a number of days.” And that which they used to invent regarding their religion has deceived them. (24) How (will it be) when We gather them together on the Day about which there is no doubt (i.e. the Day of Resurrection). And each person will be paid in full what he has earned? And they will not be dealt with unjustly. (25)” (Al-Qur’an, 3:20-25)

  42. Yayat

    April 11, 2014 at 9:09 PM

    Alhamdullilah i kissed and actually stuck my head in there for about 15 seconds and was able to recite a prayer for my family… I came like your method but i was literally sticking to the kabah like spiderman.. Until i am and my hands are at the corner of the kabah, then with all my might i pulled and slip my head inside. I did not want to come out but someone pulled me out and i got an elbow in my eye.. Getting out was as hard as getting in.. After my eye cleared from the elbow hit, i then see the world in a new light. I quickly reach for zumzum water drank and washed my face…this happened in hajj of 2006 which was also a haj Akbar with thousands of illegal hajj…before i go i asked permission from my wife and decided this is a once in a lifetime opportunity.. I had to give it a try.. Of course it was all Allah’s will that made this happened and surely nothing from this helpless and humble slave… I pray that Allah grant you all the opportunity to kiss it…aamiin

    • luckylarrysilverstein

      April 12, 2014 at 4:46 PM

      YO ALL IDOL WORSHIPPING MOHAMMEDANS,

      BLACK STONE/
      HAJAR AL ASWAD

      This is the name given to the meteorite embedded in the wall of the Ka’ba that was venerated by the Pagan Arabs and has become the prime centre of veneration of Muhammadan Islam by subsuming all the traditions and fetishes of the Pagan Arabs into the new wrapping of ‘Islam’.

      The Black Stone (Hajar al Aswad) is NEVER mentioned in the Quran

      According to the ‘Muslims’, it is in the ‘tradition’ of the Arabs that this stone was given to Abraham and Ishmael by the angel Gabriel to be the corner stone of the Ka’ba. Of course this could not have been the case since CORNER STONES are not the FIRST but the LAST to be put into a building. Moreover, it was originally white in colour , but became black because it was touched by menstruating women over the centuries.

      One should ask the question as to why would Abraham, the first monotheist and friend of God, allow the veneration of a stone?

      It was he after all who, according to the tradition of the Jews and ‘Isalm’, destroyed all the figures of gods and goddesses that were venerated by his tribe, would now accept another symbol of paganism, a mere unsculpted stone, after all?

      The Black Stone is a comparatively small meteorite, being roughly 30 cm (12 in.) in diameter. However, it can be recognized instantly by the large silver band surrounding it.

      When pilgrims circle the Ka’ba as part of the ritual of the Hajj, many of them try, if possible, to stop and kiss the Black Stone.

      The Stone is actually broken into several pieces, damage which occurred when it was stolen in 930. Qarmatian warriors sacked Mecca and carried the Black Stone away to their base in Bahrain. It was returned twenty-two years later. In the process, the Black Stone was cracked. It is now held together by the silver band, which is fastened by silver nails to the Stone.

      Some ‘Muslims’ are more willing to believe that the Stone itself has some supernatural powers. They believe that this stone fell from the sky during the time of Adam and Eve, and that it has the power to cleanse worshippers of their sins by absorbing them into itself. They say that the Black Stone was once a pure and dazzling white and it has turned black because of the sins it has absorbed over the years.

      It is remarkable, however, that even though the temple contained 360 idols worshipped before Muhammad, the Black Stone was never kissed or made an idol of worship. In fact, the Ka’ba was never worshipped by the idolaters prior to Muhammad. The building contained idols of worship but the building itself was never an object of worship.

      The single most important reason for kissing the Stone is because Muhammad did so. No devotional significance whatsoever is attached to the stone. Kissing or touching the Black Stone is a reverential act of acknowledgment that Allah’s hand directed its placement and construction. That Abraham and Muhammad, Allah’s blessing upon them, had touched and kissed the stone and an acknowledgment that Allah had entrusted the ‘corner stone’ of his religious central focus for man upon that hollowed and sacred place.

      Fiqh-us-Sunnah Fiqh 5.74b
      Sunnah of Tawaf
      It is Sunnah to perform certain acts in tawaf as given below:

      1. Facing the Black Stone at the start of the tawaf while uttering a takbir (Allahu-Akbar), and a tahlil (La ilaha illahlah), and raising one’s hands as they are raised in prayers, and if possible touching it with both hands and kissing it quietly, or placing one’s cheek on it. Otherwise, one may touch it with one’s hand and kiss the hand, or touch it with something, and then kiss it, or if even that is not possible, one may just point to it with a stick, etc. as is mentioned in some of the ahadith given below.

      Ibn ‘Umar said: “Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) faced the Black Stone touched it, and then placed his lips on it and wept for a long time.” ‘Umar also wept for a long time. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: ‘O ‘Umar, this is the place where one should shed tears.”’ (Reported by Al-Hakim, who considers it a sound hadith with a sound chain of authorities)

      It is reported by Ibn ‘Abbas that ‘Umar bent down towards the Black Stone and said: “By Allah! I know that you are a mere stone, and if I had not seen my beloved Prophet (peace be upon him) kissing you and touching you I would have never done so.”

      *** This is an extremely interesting statement from one who used to be a pagan. His conversion to Monotheism was so complete that he was able to make the above statement while his Prophet (Muhammad) was actually VENERATING an IDOL ***

      The Quran 33.32 says: “You have indeed in the Messenger of Allah a beautiful pattern (of conduct).”‘ This was reported by Ahmad and others in slightly different words.

      Nafi’ said, “I have seen Ibn ‘Umar touching the Black Stone with his hand, and then kissing his hand and saying: ‘Ever since I saw the Prophet (peace be upon him) doing this, I have never failed to do that.”’ (Reported by Bukhari and Muslim)

      Sowayd bin Ghaflah said: “I have seen ‘Umar kissing the Black Stone and touching it.” He further said: “I know that the Prophet (peace be upon him) was especially very particular about it.”

      (Muslim) Ibn ‘Umar reported that Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) used to come to Ka’bah, touch the Black Stone and then say:
      Bismillahi wallahu akbar (In the name of Allah, Allah is the Greatest.)”

      (Ahmad) Muslim has reported on the authority of Abu Tufail that he said: “I have seen the Prophet (peace be upon him) making tawaf around the Ka’bah and touching it with a stick and then kissing the stick.”

      Bukhari, Muslim and Abu Daw’ud reported that ‘Umar approached the Black Stone and kissed it.

      Then he said: “I know that you are a mere stone that can neither harm nor do any good. If I had not seen the Prophet (peace be upon him) kissing you, I would have never kissed you.”

      Al-Khatabi said: “This shows that abiding by the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace be upon him) is binding, regardless of whether or not we understand its reason or the wisdom behind it.”

      Such information devolves obligation on all those whom it reaches, even if they may not fully comprehend its significance. It is known, however, that kissing the Black Stone signifies respect for it, recognition of our obligation toward it, and using it as a means of seeking Allah’s blessings. Indeed Allah has preferred some stones over others, as He preferred some countries and cities, days and nights, and months over others. The underlying spirit of all this is unquestioning submission to Allah.

      In some ahadith which say that “the Black Stone is Allah’s right hand on earth,” we do find, however, a plausible rationale and justification for this statement. In other words whosoever touches the Black Stone he pledges allegiance to Allah, as it were, by giving his hand into the hand of Allah, just as some followers do pledge their fealty to their kings and masters, by kissing and shaking hands with them.
      Al-Muhallib said: “The hadith of ‘Umar refutes the assertions of those who say that ‘The Black Stone is Allah’s right hand on earth wherewith He shakes the hands of His slaves.”‘ God forbid that we should ascribe any physical organs to Allah. The commandment to kiss the Black Stone is meant to test and to demonstrate palpably as to who obeys and submits. It may be compared with the command to Iblis to bow to Adam.

      We have no definite evidence, however, to believe that any of the stones used in building the Ka’bah originally (by Ibrahim and Isma’il), is still in existence today excepting the Black Stone.

      Sunan of Abu-DawoodHadith 1813 Narrated byAbdullah ibn Abbas
      The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: A person who performs umrah should shout talbiyah till he touches the Black Stone.

      Sunan of Abu-DawoodHadith 1884 Narrated byAbdullah ibn Abbas
      The Prophet (peace be upon him) wore the mantle under his right armpit with the end over his left shoulder, and touched the corner (Black Stone), then uttered “Allah is most great” and walked proudly in three circuits of circumambulation. When they (the Companions) reached the Yamani corner, and disappeared from the eyes of the Quraysh, they walked as usual; When they appeared before them, they walked proudly with rapid strides. Thereupon the Quraysh said: They look to be the deer (that are jumping). Ibn Abbas said: Hence this became the sunnah (model behaviour of the Prophet).

      *** The reader should be made aware that Muhammad and his ‘Muslim’ followers were circumambulating the Ka’ba while it was still a PAGAN SHRINE ***

      Sunan of Abu-DawoodHadith 1894 Narrated byAbdullah ibn Amr ibn al-‘As
      Shu’ayb ibn Abdullah said: I went round the Ka’bah along with Abdullah ibn Amr. When we came behind the Ka’bah I asked: Do you not seek refuge? He uttered the words: I seek refuge in Allah from the Hell-fire. He then went (farther) and touched the Black Stone, and stood between the corner (Black Stone) and the entrance of the Ka’bah. He then placed his breast, his face, his hands and his palms in this manner, and he spread them, and said: I saw the apostle of Allah (peace be upon him) doing like this.

      Sahih Al-Bukhari HadithHadith 2.667 Narrated byAbis 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.”

      Sahih Al-Bukhari HadithHadith 2.675 Narrated byZaid 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).’

      Sahih Al-Bukhari HadithHadith 2.673 Narrated bySalim that his father said
      I saw Allah’s Apostle arriving at Mecca; he kissed the Black Stone Corner first while doing Tawaf and did ramal in the first three rounds of the seven rounds (of Tawaf).

      Sahih Al-Bukhari HadithHadith 2.676 Narrated byNafi
      Ibn ‘Umar. said, “I have never missed the touching of these two stones of Ka’ba (the Black Stone and the Yemenite Corner) both in the presence and the absence of crowds, since I saw the Prophet touching them.” I asked Nafi’: “Did Ibn ‘Umar use to walk between the two Corners?” Nafi’ replied, “He used to walk in order that it might be easy for him to touch it (the Corner Stone).”

      Sahih Al-Bukhari HadithHadith 2.683 Narrated byUrwa
      ‘Aisha said, “The first thing the Prophet did on reaching Mecca, was the ablution and then he performed Tawaf of the Ka’ba and that was not ‘Umra (alone), (but Hajj-al-Qiran). ‘Urwa added: Later Abu Bakr and ‘Umar did the same in their Hajj.” And I performed the Hajj with my father Az-Zubair, and the first thing he did was Tawaf of the Ka’ba. Later I saw the Muhajirin (Emigrants) and the Ansar doing the same. My mother (Asma’) told me that she, her sister (‘Aisha), Az-Zubair and such and such persons assumed Ihram for ‘Umra, and after they passed their hands over the Black Stone Corner (of the Ka’ba) they finished the Ihram (i.e. after doing Tawaf of the Ka’ba and Sa’i between Safa-Marwa).

      Sahih Al-Bukhari HadithHadith 2.697 Narrated byIbn Abbas
      Allah’s Apostle performed Tawaf (of the Kaba) riding a camel (at that time the Prophet had foot injury). Whenever he came to the Corner (having the Black Stone) he would point out towards it with a thing in his hand and say, “Allahu-Akbar.”

      Al-Muwatta Hadith Hadith 20.108
      Hastening (Raml) in the Tawaf
      Yahya related to me from Malik from Jafar ibn Muhammad from his father that Jabir ibn Abdullah said, “I saw the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, hastening from the Black Stone until he reached it again, three times.”
      Malik said, “This is what is still done by the people of knowledge in our city.”

      Al-Tirmidhi HadithHadith 2577 Narrated byAbdullah ibn Abbas
      Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) said, “The black stone descended from Paradise whiter than milk, but the sins of the descendants of Adam made it black.”
      Ahmad and Tirmidhi transmitted it, the latter saying that his is a hasan sahih tradition.

      *** The reader should be made aware of the following:

      1. No where in the Bible is the name of Allah mentioned.

      2. No where in the Torah or the New Testament is there mention of Arabia, Mecca or the Ka’ba.

      3. No where in the Bible is there mention that Abraham or Ishmael ever set foot in Arabia especially in the area of Mecca, almost 1000 miles away from Canaan.

      4. No where in the Bible is there mention that Hagar and Ishmael ever went to Mecca.

      Genesis 21: 20 ” And God was with the lad; and he grew, and lived in the wilderness, and became an archer

      21 ” And he lived in the wilderness of Paran; and his mother took for him a wife from the land of Egypt ”

      5. In fact, the Bible tells us that Ishmael and his children sojourned between

      Genesis 25: 18 ” And they lived from Havilah to Shur that is before Egypt, as you go towards Assyria….

      6. Before Muhammad, no pagan Arab was called Abraham/Ibrahim or Ishmael/Ismail. This is based on the study of the names of ALL the men mentioned in the Ahadith who belonged to the Arab tribes.

      If Abraham and Ishmael were TRULY the ANCESTORS of the Arabs, it stands to reason that at least SOME Arabs would have carried their name. NONE did. Muhammad’s name on the other hand, appears among almost 20% of his followers.

      7. Even the Arabs who had converted to the religion of the Jews [ Al Llatheena Hadoo], did not carry the names of either Abraham or Ishmael.

      8. One can understand that it was possible for the Arabs to have lost their ‘original’ Monotheism and turned to Paganism; but it would be beyond logic or comprehension to assume that they ALSO forgot the names of their most illustrios ‘fathers’.
      9. No where in all the ORAL traditions of Arabia, the poems of the Jahiliyah (before Muhammad), is there mention of Abraham or Ishmael, of Hagar (she is not mentioned in the Quran) , of Maqam Ibrahim in the Ka’ba, or anything about the Black Stone.

      10. The Quran REPEATEDLY asserts that the Pagan Arabs had no KNOWLEDGE of PREVIOUS REVELATIONS. If so, how pray could they have known about the Hebrew Patriarch that they claim relationship to?

      4:113 But for the Grace of Allah to thee and His Mercy a party of them would certainly have plotted to lead thee astray. But (in fact) they will only lead their own souls astray and to thee they can do no harm in the least. For Allah hath sent down to thee the Book and wisdom and taught thee what thou knewest not (before) [ma lam takoonoo ta’alamu] ; and great is the grace of Allah unto thee.

      42:52 And thus have We by Our command sent inspiration to thee: thou knowest not (before) what was Revelation and what was Faith; but We have made the (Qur’an) a Light wherewith We guide such of Our servants as We will; and verily thou dost guide (men) to the Straight Way

      62:2 It is He Who has sent amongst the Unlettered (Ummyeen) an apostle from among themselves to rehearse to them His Signs to sanctify them and to instruct them in Scripture and Wisdom although they had been before in manifest error

      In the Qarawiyun Manuscript in Fez (MS fos.8a-9b) Umar ibn al Khattab was being regaled by stories about the potency of invocation and the narrator told him that in the Jahiliyah, the pagan Arabs knew nothing of a One and only God, the sending of prophets, resurrection, paradise or hell.

      Also in (MS fos. 22b-23b) where it states the following “… The Arabs were illiterate. They did not study writing. All they knew of heaven and hell, the resurrection, the mission of prophets and so on was the little they heard from the Jews and Christians. This teaching had no effect on their lives”

      Before Muhammad, the Pagan Arabs did not know that they were related to Abraham and Ishmael.

      11. All the so called ‘traditions’ of ‘Islam’ regarding the origins of the Black Stone, the Ka’ba, Abraham, Hagar, Ishmael, Adam & Eve (she is not mentioned in the Quran) were CONCOCTED and put together over a period of almost 300 years from the death of Muhammad.

      12. No where does the Quran even intimate that the Arabs are descended from Abraham and Ishmael but only that they were the first ‘Muslims’ and the alleged builders of the foundation of the Ka’ba.

      13. Muhammad had to create for himself and his followers a WORTHY ancestry befitting ‘the prophet of Allah’. He had the genius to MINE the Bible from among the Hebrew characters, precepts, concepts, thoughts and ideas as a foundation for his new ‘scripture’.

      14. All these alleged ‘traditions’ are only WISHFUL thinking that has been fostered upon the human intellect for the last 1400 years.

      DICTIONARY .COM
      Idol

      1. an image or other material object representing a deity to which religious worship is addressed.

      http://www.merriam-webster.com/netdict/venerate
      Veneration
      1 : to regard with reverential respect or with admiring deference
      2 : to honor (as an icon or a relic) with a ritual act of devotion

      The fact of the matter is that Muhammad’s followers prostrate and pray toward the Quraish pagan’s black stone idol and Kaaba five times a day. The fifth pillar of Islam even obligates every Muslim to travel to the black stone idol and kaaba, and circumambulate it, just as the Arabian pagans did in moon, sun, star and jinn-devil worship, before Muhammad was ever born.

      • Hasdamas

        March 10, 2015 at 7:37 AM

        Allah guide you from you ignorance

  43. Kainaat

    July 9, 2015 at 11:19 AM

    I have never gone to hajj but hope too one day when I’m around 20 im 15 right now and reading all these comment scare me if there was a que that would be way nicer I would wait in the line for a day if I have too but I’m scared that I’ll get injured if I try to kiss it and I want to kiss it without pushing anyone I just wished there another way

  44. Makda

    October 26, 2015 at 3:07 AM

    Allah has made Islam very easy to practice upon. If one is unable to carry out an action in a specific manner, there is always another method which suites the needs.

    Kissing the stone is not fard, nor is it wajib. It is a Sunnah. However, injuring and hurting others is haraam. Thus, to carry out a haraam just for the should purpose of practising a Sunnah is against the mentality of Islam!

    Why go through the trouble of all of that when you can be sitting 20 metres away and with your gaze fixed to the ka’bah and hands raised, sincerely ask allah to forgive your sins. The result is the same (but you’ve saved your self from committing a haraam in the most blessed place!

  45. Kamran

    October 27, 2015 at 5:51 PM

    Allhumdolillah i went last year in November (after Hajj) on a business visa (the time when umrah visas are closed and only GCC citizens are allowed in). Haram was empty and they allow you to line up and you can get to kiss the hajare aswad all to yourself. Lost count how many times i kissed it! Allhumdolillah

  46. Saiam

    February 9, 2016 at 9:11 AM

    WOW! This is exactly the method I implemented in June 2014 when I went for Umrah and I’ve only just come across this article now! I pray that we all get a chance to make this blessed journey to the holy lands and keep it regular/consistent within our lives.

  47. Najm McC

    April 11, 2016 at 9:03 PM

    The problem with this technique, is that it will leave a person’s Ṭawāf, at least according to the Shāfiʿī school (maybe others, too, I don’t know), because if you walk while touching the Kaʿaba as described, you will have your hand above the ledge (which, as pointed out has rings on it that hold the kiswa) and are technically NOT going around the Kaʿaba. In the fiqh book Reliance of the Traveller, it specifically mentions that one must NOT move their feet while touching the Yemeni corner or the Black Stone so that one is not advancing while not AROUND the Kaʿaba, and that if one does, one must take a step or two back so that their entire circle is AROUND the Kaʿaba. While touching the Kaʿaba, you are actually within the confines of it, and not going AROUND it. #Fiqh, #Fiqh, #Fiqh!!!!

  48. Madrasah tul quran

    November 11, 2016 at 6:15 AM

    And are technically NOT going around the Kaʿaba. In the fiqh book Reliance of the Traveller, it specifically mentions that one must NOT move their feet while touching the Yemeni corner or the Black Stone so that one is not advanc.

  49. Ejaz Rasheed

    December 24, 2016 at 4:21 PM

    I have gone to Saudia Arabia thrice once for hajj and twice for umrah I have been unable to kiss the hajr e aswad now I’m old unable to walk properly I would request the shurtas to let disabled kiss the black stone.

  50. Fahad Jawad

    June 10, 2018 at 9:32 PM

    I went for umrah to saudi arabia this year. I failed on my first attempt to reach black stone. Came back to hotel after performing umrah, a little depressed because I couldn’t reach black stone, i searched on google how to reach black stone then I came across this website. After reading this guide carefully and twice I made up my mind to reach black stone at all cost. And keeping everything said in this guide in mind I reached yemeni first with a very little struggle. As instructed in this article , I didn’t let go ogf kaabah cloth and after may be some 40 minutes I was able to reach black stone, which wouldn’t have been possible for a skinny and not so strong guy like me otherwise.

    Just follow all of the instructions mentioned in this article and Inshallah you’ll reach black stone. I also shared the instructions in this article with my 58 year old father who isn’t in a very great health and he too was able to reach and kiss black stone. This really helped us.
    Thanks a lot. May Allah reward you for sharing this.

    • malike

      October 27, 2018 at 6:47 PM

      Ask your sisters and mothers, to touch their heart and tell the truth, how was their experience in approaching the blackstone. Guys you have absolutely no clue what a women go through when she queues in to do this Sunnah act. May Allah s.w.t guide us.

  51. malike

    October 27, 2018 at 6:42 PM

    Sorry I do not agree with your suggested strategy. The area around hajr al aswad is a representation of the state of Ummah. The day when the pilgrims queue and allow the women, children and the old to kiss the blackstone in accordance with the Sunnah, is the day of unity and love of Ummah. I would not recommend any muslimah to queue and kiss the blackstone with bunch of ignorant men and women. This is against Sunnah and the article is doing more harm than good. How can an act of sunnah results in causing harm. Despite the Prophet s.a.w has taught us, the methodology to approach the sunnah act. This article is absurd.

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