To millions of Muslims, the Kaaba at Mecca is the core of their religion- a holy building that they turn to in their day to day prayers. The black stone(Hajr-e-Aswad) is a stone of great spiritual importance permanently situated in its eastern corner. It is a holy stone upon which pilgrims and pilgrims have touched and kissed throughout centuries in the pilgrimage to Mecca. This paper will discuss the history, spiritual significance, and significance of the Hajr-e-Aswad among Muslims all over the world.
The Hajr-e-Aswad is not just a rock, it is a celestial relic that is supposed to have been descended by heaven on earth. It is traditionally thought to have been white to begin with, whiter than the milk but has since turned black as it has absorbed all the sins of all the pilgrims who have touched and kissed it. This belief causes this to become a symbol of divine forgiveness and purification. The pilgrims visiting the Hajj or Umrah pilgrimage would also not hesitate to touch the stone because the prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) did it and the stone is believed to be a direct contact with God and a means of spiritual cleansing.
The Origins and History of the Black Stone
Among the most important personalities of Islam, there is Hajr-e-Aswad. It is assumed that the stone dropped off of paradise and was given by the angel Jibrail (Gabriel) to the Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham). When the Kaaba was constructed by Ibrahim and his son, Isma’il (Ishmael), they placed the stone in the east part of Kaaba that formed the source of the Tawaf, the ritual of going around Kaaba. And in case you are planning to pay a visit to this holy location, you can book Umrah Packages from California to have this religious experience.
A Stone Through Time
Hajr-e-Aswad has witnessed the veneration and the war during centuries. It has suffered rising waters, blaze and intentional vandalism. It was also one of the greatest events in its primeval history as a young Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was yet to receive his first revelation. The Quraysh tribe who ruled the Mecca tribe was in the process of rebuilding the Kaaba and had an argument on who would be revered to restore the stone to its position. To avoid war, they decided to leave the decision making to the first man that is going to enter the sanctuary. The latter was a prophet who was to be the future and he came up with a wiser solution. He placed the stone on a cloak and one of each clan was to touch a corner, and the stone was all raised up. Then he placed the stone with his own hands, which demonstrated that he was a wise man and he got the name of Al-Amin (the trustworthy).
The Qarmatians, a sectarian group, stole the stone in the 10 th century, and it was lost more than 20 years before it was restored. The stone has also been damaged over time through fracture into a number of pieces. The fragments are today cemented together, and kept in a silver frame, which keeps it whole to the posterity.
The Significance of the Hajr-e-Aswad in Islamic Rituals
The Hajr-e-Asward symbol is a very important feature of the Hajj and Umrah pilgrimage. It is primarily used to mark the beginning and the end of all the seven circuits of the Tawaf.
The Act of Kissing and Touching the Stone
The pilgrims wish to rub, wave or kiss the Hajr-e-Aswad during a ceremony known as Istilam. It is one of the Sunna or the achievements made by the prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Once the Caliph was Umar ibn al-Khattab upon which he said to the stone, saying, I know that thou art a stone and wilt be neither good nor harm. Did I not see that Prophet of Allah kiss you I would not have kissed thee.
This statement is popular, which explains a very important aspect of Islamic theology, the stone in itself is not an object of worship. Rather the respect given to it is a form of devotion, which is done only in imitation of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Kissing the stone is a physical expression of the love to the Prophet and a symbolic commitment of loyalty to God. To pilgrims it is an experience of intense spiritual attachment, a physical connection with a millennia-long tradition.
Gesturing from a Distance
Hajj and Umrah can be a huge challenge due to the fact that the number of individuals that visit Hajj might be huge. It is not necessary to touch and kiss the stone. Pilgrims who are not able to do that can alternatively make Istilam by pointing towards it with their right hand when they commence each circuit of the Tawaf and say: Bismillah, Allahu Akbar (In the name of God, God is the greatest). This renders the participation of all pilgrims, regardless of their physical strength and the crowding of the audience, in this important ceremony.
It is a big experience to any pilgrim to kiss or point to Hajr- e Aswad. It is a religious rite of passage re-creating the new life, a new dawn in their lives. The stone folklore serves as a good reminder of the humility and solidarity that the pilgrimage experience is not about. The pilgrims are the representatives of all parts of the world, and thus, their respect to each other concerning one point makes them feel their community rather intensively, without any race, wealth, and status differentiation.
Plan Your Spiritual Journey with Crowne Travels
More than a historical relic, the Hajr-e-Aswad is a living symbol of faith, repentance and unity which has remained an inspiration to millions of people. Its narrative is a tribute to a rich heritage of the prophets and the great spiritual thirst that brings the Muslims back to Mecca season after season. When anyone is participating in the rituals around the stone it reminds him of the eternal relationship between humanity and God.
Therefore, when you are planning to visit the holy pilgrimage Hajj or Umrah, and you would like to see Hajr-e-Aswad with your naked eyes, then Crowne Travels will gladly assist you. Our business would focus on laying down free flowing and spiritually satisfying pilgrimage packages that would get everything down to business and you are left to do nothing but commit. Call us and enquire about our Hajj and Umrah services.
