The Black Stone – Hajre-Aswad
In the middle of a deserted valley surrounded by mountains, two men were at work. Slowly slowly, brick by brick, they were building the house of Allah Ta’ala. The friend and Prophet of Allah Ta’ala, Prophet Ibrahim (AS) and his dear son, the grandfather of the Prophet (SAW), Prophet Ismail (AS) were building the Kabah, continuously supplementing to Allah Ta’ala, until the Kabah had been created. It was missing one stone. On seeing this, Hadhrat Ibrahim(AS) instructed Hadhrat Ismail (AS) to go search for a stone, so that he can put into the empty space. Hadhrat Ismail (AS) obeying his father’s orders went searching for a stone, during which time Hadhrat Jibrael Alayhis Salam brought the Hajre Aswad to Ibrahim (AS).
Allah Ta’ala had placed the stone in mount Abu Kays, when the great flood occurred in the time of Hadhrat Nuh (AS), and ordered Hadhrat Jibrael Alayhis Salam that when you see my friend making my house, take the stone out for him and give it to him.
Hadhrat Ismail (AS)returned, and on seeing this stone he asked “Oh my father, where did you get this from?” Hadhrat Ibrahim (AS) replied, “Hadhrat Jibrael(AS)brought it.”
Hadhrat Jibrael(AS) placed the stone in its place, and Hadhrat Ibrahim (AS) applied the finishing touches. The Hajre Aswad was sparkling because of its pure whiteness, and it enlightened the north, south, east and west.
It has been related in a Hadith that Hadhrat Jibrael(AS) brought the Hajre Aswad from Jannah.
In another Hadith, it has been said by Hadhrat Ibn Abbas (SAW), that the Hajre Aswad and Makame Ibrahim are the two pearls from the pearls of Jannah. They came down from the sky with a divine light, and after being placed on the earth their light was extinguished. If Allah Ta’ala had not extinguished their light the two stones would have lit all that which is in between the sky and the earth.
The Hajre Aswad is that stone, from which millions of Muslims begin their tawaaf. When it first came from Paradise, it was brighter than snow and milk. Its length is approximately one foot and is embedded in the corner of the Kabah. Allah Ta’ala has given the stone a special attribute, that if any human kisses, touches or even gives istilam to the stone, it seeks forgiveness of sins for that very human and on the day of Judgement the stone will be given a tongue and will give witness for whoever has visited it on that day.
The stone slowly slowly started loosing its whiteness because of the large quantity of sinners kissing the stone. For this apparent reason part the stone has become black, but the embedded part in the structure of the Kabah is still white.
A further attribute of this stone is that the noble Prophet (SAW) has kissed this stone, so whenever anyone touches or kisses the stone, he is kissing or touching the place where the lips of the Prophet (SAW) had touched.