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| Arabic | الحَجَر الأَسْوَد |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | al-HA-jar al-AS-wad |
| Etymology | Hajar (حجر) means 'stone' from the root ح-ج-ر. Aswad (أسود) means 'black,' referring to the stone's dark color. Islamic tradition attributes its darkening to the absorption of human sins over millennia, though it was originally described as white. |
Hajar al-Aswad(الحَجَر الأَسْوَد) The Hajar al-Aswad (Black Stone) is a revered stone set into the eastern corner of the Kaaba. It marks the starting and ending point of each Tawaf circuit and holds deep significance in Islamic tradition.
الحَجَر الأَسْوَد
The Black Stone is set in a silver frame approximately 1.5 meters above ground level in the eastern corner of the Kaaba. According to hadith narrations, it was originally sent down from Paradise, whiter than milk, and turned black from absorbing the sins of humanity. Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) placed it in the corner of the Kaaba when he and his son Ismail rebuilt the structure. The stone has undergone damage throughout history — it was taken by the Qarmatians in 930 CE and returned 22 years later, and it is now in several pieces held together by the silver casing. During Tawaf, pilgrims perform Istilam at the Black Stone to mark the beginning and end of each circuit. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) kissed the Black Stone during his pilgrimage, establishing the Sunnah. However, as Umar ibn al-Khattab clarified, Muslims do not worship the stone itself — the reverence is an act of obedience to the Prophet's practice.
Hajar (حجر) means 'stone' from the root ح-ج-ر. Aswad (أسود) means 'black,' referring to the stone's dark color. Islamic tradition attributes its darkening to the absorption of human sins over millennia, though it was originally described as white.
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