Thekabarnews.com—The Black Stone [Hajar al-Aswad] holds an important place in the Islamic rituals of Hajj and Umrah. Muslims do not believe that the stone possesses supernatural power.

Embedded in the Kaaba’s eastern corner at the Grand Mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, the Hajar al-Aswad marks the point where pilgrims begin and complete each circuit of tawaf. Pilgrims may kiss or touch it when conditions allow. This is because Prophet Muhammad ﷺ did so.

The clearest explanation comes from Umar ibn al-Khattab, the second caliph, who addressed the stone before kissing it.

“No doubt, I know that you are a stone and can neither benefit anyone nor harm anyone. Had I not seen Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) kissing you, I would not have kissed you.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 1597).

His statement establishes the central principle behind the practice. Specifically, Muslims follow the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ’s example rather than worship the stone or attribute independent power to it.

Islamic narrations also describe the stone’s special origin. Ibn Abbas reported that Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:

“The Black Stone descended from Paradise, and it was whiter than milk, then it was blackened by the sins of the children of Adam,” as recorded in Jami’ at-Tirmidhi 877.

According to Jami’ at-Tirmidhi 961, the prophet Muhammad ﷺ said the stone will testify on the Day of Resurrection.

“By Allah! Allah will raise it on the Day of Resurrection with two eyes by which it sees and a tongue that it speaks with, testifying to whoever touched it in truth.”

However, kissing Hajar al-Aswad is a recommended Sunnah, not a requirement for a valid tawaf, Hajj or Umrah. Pilgrims should not push through a crowd or endanger others to reach it.

Saudi Arabia’s official Hajj guidance states that pilgrims should touch Hajar al-Aswad only when they can do so without pushing or causing harm.

If the area is crowded, they may point toward it with their right hand and say “Allahu Akbar.”

The safety instruction reflects a broader religious duty to protect other worshippers. Reaching the stone does not take precedence over preventing injury or maintaining an orderly flow around the Kaaba.

The Quran describes the sacred precinct as a place of security. Surah Ali ‘Imran 3:97 states:

فِيهِ ءَايَـٰتٌۢ بَيِّنَـٰتٌۭ مَّقَامُ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ ۖ وَمَن دَخَلَهُۥ كَانَ ءَامِنًۭا ۗ

“In it are clear signs [such as] the standing place of Abraham. And whoever enters it [i.e., the Ḥaram] shall be safe.”

For pilgrims, therefore, devotion at Hajar al-Aswad rests on sincere obedience and respect for others.

Those who cannot approach it can continue their tawaf without concern. This is because physical contact with the stone is not the purpose of the pilgrimage.