The Black stone in Ka'ba
Islam strongly opposes idolatry. Then for what reason a black stone is installed on the wall of the Ka'ba. When all idols were removed, why this stone alone was left untouched? Isn't it evidence that Islam also has idol worship?
This question clearly indicates to a commonly held misunderstanding among the people and a few things have to be explained.
1. The Black stone in the Ka'ba (Hajarul Aswad) was never worshipped by anyone in history. When more than three hundred and sixty idols were worshipped inside Ka'ba and its premises, no one worshipped the black stone. In the era of idol worship before the prophet hood of Muhammad also, no one had worshipped this particular stone.
2. No object of worship in this world is known by its own name. It is known by the name of whose name it consecrates. The idols of Brahma, Vishnu, Sivan, Krishnan, Guruvayoorappan and others are called by their names. They are never called by the materials they are made of like a piece of stone, stump of a tree, piece of a tile, clay etc. But the black stone of the Ka'ba is known by its own name, Hajarul Aswad, which in Arabic means `Blackstone'. The name itself is ample proof that it was never an idol, or a consecrated stone.
3. At the starting point of running race like one hundred, five hundred or thousand metres there will be a mark, like a line or something else. Similarly Hajarul Asward is a mark, a starting point for those who compass the Kaba. Beyond that any divinity or importance must not be attributed to it; Prophet's close follower and second Khalifa, Umar has explained it in clear terms that no one will attribute any holiness to this stone. ''You are a mere stone,'' said Umar. 'I would never have kissed you, if prophet had not done so.'
Is it necessary to have a stone to mark the beginning of Tawaf (Compass) around Ka'ba?
The reason is merely historical. Ka'ba is the first structure built for the worship of Allah. It is built by the prophets Ibrahim and his son Ismail on a spot decided by Allah. Hajarul Aswad is a part of that holy structure. The historical importance of this stone is that it is part of a place of worship built by the prophets.
If it is not a divine thing of worship why people kiss it?
People usually kiss the things they love; and not the things they worship. Prophet Muhammad used to love and honour it as it is part of a place of worship built by his predecessors Ibrahim and Ismail. Prophet Muhammad kissed Hajarul Aswad in his last Haj pilgrimage. So the pilgrims of all ages do the same. Prophet was aware that his successors would follow his footsteps. Yet he did it with the hope that the lips of generations of people after him will touch the black stone, where his lips had been pressed once. The prophet had emphasised that it was a mere stone, which can be neither useful nor harmful.
The kisses on Hajarul Aswad is only a gesture of love to the prophet. There is no feeling of worship in it; there can never be any. Those who kiss Hajarul Aswad partake of the symbolic embrace of it, which the prophet had left for his followers of future generations. By pressing his lips on Hajarul Aswad a believer is linking himself with millions of believers of different generations, in various centuries and whose lips had touched the same stone. It creates a feeling in the believer that he is only a drop in the great ocean of believers, which has been flowing continuously through centuries. He thus gets emotionally involved with his predecessors who span many centuries, and thereby realizes of the unity of humanity. This experience thrills him beyond words. However it is a sin either to attribute divinity to it or touch and kiss it with a sense of worship. Islam has strictly prohibited it, as such an attitude is part of idolatory.
Islam strongly opposes idolatry. Then for what reason a black stone is installed on the wall of the Ka'ba. When all idols were removed, why this stone alone was left untouched? Isn't it evidence that Islam also has idol worship?
This question clearly indicates to a commonly held misunderstanding among the people and a few things have to be explained.
1. The Black stone in the Ka'ba (Hajarul Aswad) was never worshipped by anyone in history. When more than three hundred and sixty idols were worshipped inside Ka'ba and its premises, no one worshipped the black stone. In the era of idol worship before the prophet hood of Muhammad also, no one had worshipped this particular stone.
2. No object of worship in this world is known by its own name. It is known by the name of whose name it consecrates. The idols of Brahma, Vishnu, Sivan, Krishnan, Guruvayoorappan and others are called by their names. They are never called by the materials they are made of like a piece of stone, stump of a tree, piece of a tile, clay etc. But the black stone of the Ka'ba is known by its own name, Hajarul Aswad, which in Arabic means `Blackstone'. The name itself is ample proof that it was never an idol, or a consecrated stone.
3. At the starting point of running race like one hundred, five hundred or thousand metres there will be a mark, like a line or something else. Similarly Hajarul Asward is a mark, a starting point for those who compass the Kaba. Beyond that any divinity or importance must not be attributed to it; Prophet's close follower and second Khalifa, Umar has explained it in clear terms that no one will attribute any holiness to this stone. ''You are a mere stone,'' said Umar. 'I would never have kissed you, if prophet had not done so.'
Is it necessary to have a stone to mark the beginning of Tawaf (Compass) around Ka'ba?
The reason is merely historical. Ka'ba is the first structure built for the worship of Allah. It is built by the prophets Ibrahim and his son Ismail on a spot decided by Allah. Hajarul Aswad is a part of that holy structure. The historical importance of this stone is that it is part of a place of worship built by the prophets.
If it is not a divine thing of worship why people kiss it?
People usually kiss the things they love; and not the things they worship. Prophet Muhammad used to love and honour it as it is part of a place of worship built by his predecessors Ibrahim and Ismail. Prophet Muhammad kissed Hajarul Aswad in his last Haj pilgrimage. So the pilgrims of all ages do the same. Prophet was aware that his successors would follow his footsteps. Yet he did it with the hope that the lips of generations of people after him will touch the black stone, where his lips had been pressed once. The prophet had emphasised that it was a mere stone, which can be neither useful nor harmful.
The kisses on Hajarul Aswad is only a gesture of love to the prophet. There is no feeling of worship in it; there can never be any. Those who kiss Hajarul Aswad partake of the symbolic embrace of it, which the prophet had left for his followers of future generations. By pressing his lips on Hajarul Aswad a believer is linking himself with millions of believers of different generations, in various centuries and whose lips had touched the same stone. It creates a feeling in the believer that he is only a drop in the great ocean of believers, which has been flowing continuously through centuries. He thus gets emotionally involved with his predecessors who span many centuries, and thereby realizes of the unity of humanity. This experience thrills him beyond words. However it is a sin either to attribute divinity to it or touch and kiss it with a sense of worship. Islam has strictly prohibited it, as such an attitude is part of idolatory.
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