الحجر الأسود
The Hajar al-Aswad (Hacer-ul Esved) is a sacred stone set into the eastern corner of the Kabe in Mekke. Muslims begin and end each circuit of tavaf at this point. Hz. Peygamber Muhammad (PBUH) placed it in its current position during the Kabe's reconstruction.
The Hacer-ul Esved is believed by Muslims to date back to the time of Prophet Adam (AS) and was originally white, turning black from absorbing the sins of humanity. When the Quraysh rebuilt the Kabe, a dispute arose over who should place the stone. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) resolved it by having representatives of each clan hold a cloth carrying the stone, then placing it himself. The stone has been broken into fragments over the centuries and is now held together by a silver frame.
The Hacer-ul Esved marks the starting and ending point of tavaf. Kissing or pointing to it is a sunnah of Hz. Peygamber Muhammad (PBUH). It is considered a stone from Paradise and will testify on the Day of Judgment for those who touched it with sincerity.
The Hacer-ul Esved is located at the eastern corner of the Kabe, marked by a green light. During peak times, kissing or touching the stone is extremely difficult due to crowds. It is sunnah to kiss it if possible, touch it, or simply point toward it and say 'Allahu Akbar' from a distance. Each tavaf circuit begins and ends at the Hacer-ul Esved line.