Hajr-e-Aswad
Millions of pilgrims have entered the capital city of Mecca over the centuries having their eyes and hearts fastened to one mote of the Great Mosque, Masjid al-Haram. The east side of the Kaaba, the sacred dwelling-place, is very holy and of great religious significance, the Hajr-e-Aswad, or the Black Stone. Not only is it comparable to a geological phenomenon but also representative of faith and identification with the past of Islam and the heart of one of the fundamental practices in Islam.
The Hajr-e-Aswad is a sacred site that is of long history and spiritual values as discussed in this guide. We will discuss its creation, how it is being used in the rites to Hajj and Umrah and the accounts of the prophets that are related to it and how the pilgrims should handle this religious site. The Hajr-e-Aswad is relevant to the individuals who are planning their religious journey with Haram Travels to have the best experience of the pilgrimage life.
The other pillar that is the Mecca pilgrimage is the Hajr-e-Aswad, which is the starting point and the ending point of the tawaf the circumambulation of the Kaaba. It is an element of the cult of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) who praised the rock and in its supposedly divine origins among Muslims. There are the pilgrims who are awed when they touch or make movements towards an object that links them in some way to some tradition of prophets, and that has the history of the very creation itself. It is a history of persistence since it has passed the test of time despite all the changes and has been a reminder to the Muslim world oneness.
The Origins and History of the Black Stone
The Hajr-e-Aswad history is full of folklore and Islamic history. It is popularly believed that the stone was not part of this world but it fell down the Paradise. According to the tradition it was brought down to the Angel Jibril(Gabriel) and handed over to the Prophet Ibrahim(Abraham) as he was constructing the Kaaba with his son, Ismail (Ishmael). Many individuals who visit this sacred journey do not choose the Umrah Packages so as to familiarize with the abundant historical and religious heritage of this sacred stone.
A Stone from Jannah (Paradise)
Stone accounts of prophets elaborate how the stone was whiter than milk when it first dropped out of Jannah (Paradise). Its color is believed to have changed over the years to black due to the sins of man. The transformation is a good allegory of human situation and the position of the stone as a witness of the deeds of the mankind. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) once told, the Black Stone was descending to Paradise, and then was whiter than milk, however, the sins of the sons of Adam turned it black. (Tirmidhi).
This heavenly origin provides the Hajr-e-Aswad with a religious value, and this is a unique and sacred object of Muslims in the world. It is not venerated, only as a relic of Paradise, and as a connection of the supernatural.
The Role of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)
The Hajr-e-Aswad has been a unique aspect of life of the prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). One of the most familiar ones was the one that occurred early prior to his initial revelation. They were rebuilding a Kaaba which was the house of Quraysh tribe and which was destroyed by inundations. This formed a row of violence among the heads of the clans as there was need to replace the Black Stone in its position. The two leaders had a desire of the freedom to lay the holy rock.
They had concluded that the arbitrator would be the subsequent person to enter into the sanctuary to evade the bloodshed. The latter was the youthful Muhammad, who at that time had become known on account of his wisdom and trustworthiness, being called, on that account, Al- Amin (the Trustworthy). He developed a great solution. He threw his cloak to the ground and placed the stone on the ground and instructed one representative of each clan to secure a corner of the cloak and to hoist it upwards. When that was high enough he set it there himself, with his own hands. This was a political action that avoided war and this demonstrated how powerful his character was even prior to him becoming a prophet.
Fragmentation and Preservation
The Hajr-e-Aswad has faced numerous threats in its whole history. In 930 CE, it was stolen by the Qarmatians, a radical section of the Ismaili and transported to their headquarters Hajar (currently Bahrain). This took a duration of over 20 years before the stone was returned to Mecca.
The stone has also been broken and destroyed within the centuries. Nowadays it is bound in a few fragments–eight, they say, the larger part, fifteen, by a silver frame. This was a frame which was originally built by Abdullah ibn al-Zubayr and which has been successively replaced by different caliphs, which made it possible to hold onto the crumbly pieces and allow pilgrims to continue their tradition of touching or kissing the frame.
The Significance of Hajr-e-Aswad in Islamic Rituals
The Hajr-e-Aswad is where the tawaf performance is held that is a significant ritual of Hajj and Umrah. Being aware of its mission will make the spiritual life of any pilgrim useful.
The Starting Point of Tawaf
Tawaf refers to a seven counterclockwise circumambulation of Kaaba. The circles are initiated and concluded by the Hajr-e-Aswad. Pilgrims enter the tawaf by turning their backs and shrubs towards the stone, called istilam.
It is a pilgrimage that connects the pilgrim to the heritage of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) who also began his tawaf at the Black Stone. It gives a sense of unity, togetherness, as millions of pilgrims have a common starting place and walk together and in the same flowing direction around the house of God.
The Act of Istilam: Touching, Kissing, or Pointing
Istilam- means to make recognition of Hajr-e-Aswad at the beginning of all the seven rounds of tawaf. The best according to the sunnah (practice of the Prophet) is a direct kissing of the stone. In case of not being able to come near it owing to the crowds, they can touch it with their hand and, in turn, kiss their hand.
A pilgrim can even approach the stone and point towards it with his right hand and say Allahu Akbar (God is the Greatest) even without being able to touch it. This will make sure that all individuals, irrespective of their physical capacity or the magnitude of the crowd can be part of this noble tradition. It is a lesson that the motive and the commitment to the action is what counts.
A Witness on the Day of Judgment
The Islamic tradition is that the Hajr-e-Aswad will testify on the day of judgment against those who will have touched it with honesty and truth. Prophet Muhammad, (PBUH) is quoted saying by Allah, Allah will raise it on resurrection day and it will have two eyes with which it will see and a tongue with which it will speak and will testify in the cause of those who handled it in the truth. (Tirmidhi).
This faith gives pilgrims a sense of responsibility and optimism. The mere gestures or even feeling of the stone is a bearing witness to the faith that he or she has which is written down to the day when all things are counted.
Practical Guidance for Pilgrims
The way to the Hajr-e-Aswad can be a difficult but very satisfying journey. The space surrounding it is usually very congested and one should go around it in the right mindset and manner.
Patience and Respect for Others
One wants to touch or kiss the Black Stone, however, it should not cause harm or moving other pilgrims. In the Islamic religion, a lot of emphasis is laid on the rights and security of other individuals. When the crowd is too thick, it would not only be safe and adequate to do istilam at a distance. It does not reduce the reward of a pilgrim. Always bear in mind that it is sinful to cause harm to a fellow Muslim and it is only recommended to kiss the stone, but not obligatory. The principle of non-harm prevails.
The Best Times to Approach the Stone
Although one should not be certain about the quiet time, there might be certain time when it is not too full. This may be in late at night, when the fajr prayer is about to start or when the day is very hot and few are performing tawaf. Nevertheless, pilgrims must always be ready to face crowds and safety must be their first concern.
The Supplication at the Yemeni Corner
When the pilgrims enter Kaaba, they are performing tawaf and there is one additional wall of Kaaba that is most vital Rukn al-Yamani or the Yemeni Corner this wall is also a sunnah and touching of this angle is not kissing. Pilgrims on the Yemeni Corner and the Hajr-e-Aswad are asked to recite the following pray of the Quran: Rabbana atina fid-dunya hastanat wa fil Akhirati hastanat waqina adhaban-nar Our Lord, bless us with this world that is good and with the Hereafter that which is good and protect us against the punishment of the Fire. (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:201).
Haram Travels can offer the pilgrims a glimpse of spiritual experience of Hajj or Umrah and eye-feed on the splendor of Hajr-e-Aswad with the professional guidance of the Haram Travels. We also go to make sure that any one, who comes to our pilgrimage, gets a smooth and spiritually fulfilling experience in which everything is taken care of. Flights, accommodation, transportation on the ground: our team will help you to focus on what is actually important the connection with the divine. We shall help you answer the call of Mecca and in the presence of religious signs of your religion.
Your Journey to the Kaaba
Hajr-e-Aswad is an extremely potent icon which has been a monument throughout centuries and a light of religion, unity and heritage of the prophets. It is not an icon of the worship but rather of cult, an edenic relic that is a combination of earth and god. It is a beginning of a spiritual degree of the pilgrim about the Kaaba a journey that can be likened to the one the universe is moving anonymous a centre.
The book of the Hajr-e-Aswad will inspire you as you make plans to go on pilgrimage with Haram Travels. Be ready when it comes time to stand in front of it, to be able to relate with a tradition that is many thousand years old. May your trip be welcomed and your experience be a deep spiritual one.
