ركن الحجر الأسود
The হাজরে আসওয়াদ Corner (Rukn al-Hajar al-Aswad) is the eastern corner of the কাবা শরীফ where the sacred হাজরে আসওয়াদ is embedded. It marks the starting and ending point of each তাওয়াফ circuit. A green light on the wall of মসজিদুল হারাম aligns with this corner to help হাজীগণ identify the starting line from upper floors.
The eastern corner of the কাবা শরীফ has housed the হাজরে আসওয়াদ since Prophet Ibrahim (AS) and Ismail (AS) built the sacred house. This corner, along with the Yemeni Corner, sits on the original Ibrahimic foundation. The green light indicator visible on the মসজিদ wall was added during Saudi-era expansions to help হাজীগণ on upper তাওয়াফ floors identify the exact alignment. A silver frame now holds the fragments of the হাজরে আসওয়াদ securely in the corner.
This corner is the most sacred point of the তাওয়াফ circuit. It rests on the original foundation built by Prophet Ibrahim (AS) and houses the হাজরে আসওয়াদ, a stone from Paradise. Every তাওয়াফ throughout Islamic history has begun and ended at this point, connecting all হাজীগণ across time in the same act of worship.
The হাজরে আসওয়াদ Corner is the busiest section of the mataf area as all হাজীগণ begin and end each তাওয়াফ circuit here. A green light on the মসজিদ wall marks the alignment. When you reach this corner, face the হাজরে আসওয়াদ and say 'Bismillahi Allahu Akbar.' If you can kiss or touch the stone, do so. If not, simply raise your right hand toward it and say the takbir. Avoid pushing or shoving. The upper floors provide a calmer তাওয়াফ experience with the green light as your guide.