Touching or wiping the Kabah's cloth (Kiswah), walls, or any part of the Kabah — other than the Hajar Aswad and the Yemeni Corner — has no basis in the Sunnah and is considered an innovation. Nabi only touched (istilam) the Hajar Aswad (kissing it or pointing to it) and the Yemeni Corner (touching it with his hand). He did not touch the other two corners or the walls of the Kabah.
Touching or wiping the Kabah's cloth (Kiswah), its walls, or its corners — other than the Hajar Aswad and the Yemeni Corner — has no basis in the Sunnah and is considered an innovation by the majority of scholars. Nabi (shallallahu alaihi wa sallam) only performed istilam (ritual touching/kissing) of the Hajar Aswad, and he would touch the Yemeni Corner with his hand without kissing it. He deliberately did not touch the other two corners (the Iraqi and Shami corners) or the walls of the Kabah.
Sheikh Ibn Baz stated that many jamaah haji mistakenly rub the Kabah's cloth on their bodies, wipe their faces against the walls, or press their chests against the cloth believing it carries blessings (barakah). None of this was practiced by Nabi, and it has no basis in authentic evidence. The blessings of the Kabah are in performing Tawaf around it, praying near it, and making doa facing it — not in physical contact with its cloth or walls.
Sheikh Al-Albani emphasized that Nabi, who loved the Kabah more than anyone, only touched the Hajar Aswad and the Yemeni Corner. When Umar ibn al-Khattab kissed the Hajar Aswad, he said: 'I know that you are a stone and can neither benefit nor harm. Had I not seen the Messenger of Allah kissing you, I would not have kissed you.' This demonstrates that the touching is purely an act of following the Sunnah, not a belief that the stone itself holds power or blessings.
Umar came to the Hajar Aswad and kissed it, then said: 'I know that you are a stone; you can neither benefit nor harm. Had I not seen the Messenger of Allah (shallallahu alaihi wa sallam) kissing you, I would not have kissed you.'
Umar came to the Hajar Aswad and kissed it, then said: 'I know that you are a stone; you can neither benefit nor harm. Had I not seen the Messenger of Allah (shallallahu alaihi wa sallam) kissing you, I would not have kissed you.'
I never saw Nabi (shallallahu alaihi wa sallam) touching anything of the Kabah except the two Yemeni corners (the Hajar Aswad and the Yemeni Corner).
I never saw Nabi (shallallahu alaihi wa sallam) touching anything of the Kabah except the two Yemeni corners (the Hajar Aswad and the Yemeni Corner).
Scholars from different schools of Islamic jurisprudence offer varying perspectives on this matter.
Only the Hajar Aswad and the Yemeni Corner should be touched. Touching the Kabah's cloth, walls, or other corners has no basis in the Sunnah.
Hanafi scholars limit istilam to what Nabi practiced — the Hajar Aswad and Yemeni Corner.
Touching the Kabah beyond the Hajar Aswad and Yemeni Corner is not from the Sunnah. Wiping the cloth for blessings is an innovation.
Maliki scholars follow the hadith restricting touching to the two Yemeni corners.
The Shafi'i school limits ritual touching to the Hajar Aswad (kissing or pointing) and the Yemeni Corner (touching). The cloth and walls are not touched.
Al-Majmu' by al-Nawawi: istilam is only for the Hajar Aswad and Yemeni Corner.
Only the Hajar Aswad and the Yemeni Corner are touched during Tawaf. Touching other parts of the Kabah is an innovation that should be avoided.
Al-Mughni by Ibn Qudamah: Nabi only performed istilam of the two Yemeni corners.
This is a scholarly summary, not a personal fatwa. Consult your scholar for personal rulings.
Umar came to the Hajar Aswad and kissed it, then said: 'I know that you are a stone; you can neither benefit nor harm. Had I not seen the Messenger of Allah (shallallahu alaihi wa sallam) kissing you, I would not have kissed you.'
Sahih al-Bukhari #1597 (sahih)I never saw Nabi (shallallahu alaihi wa sallam) touching anything of the Kabah except the two Yemeni corners (the Hajar Aswad and the Yemeni Corner).
Sahih Muslim #1267 (sahih)