Touching or wiping the Kabe's cloth (Kiswah), walls, or any part of the Kabe — other than the Hacer-ul Esved and the Yemeni Corner — has no basis in the Sunnah and is considered an innovation. Hz. Peygamber only touched (istilam) the Hacer-ul Esved (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 Kabe.
Touching or wiping the Kabe's cloth (Kiswah), its walls, or its corners — other than the Hacer-ul Esved and the Yemeni Corner — has no basis in the Sunnah and is considered an innovation by the majority of scholars. Hz. Peygamber (sallallahu aleyhi ve sellem) only performed istilam (ritual touching/kissing) of the Hacer-ul Esved, 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 Kabe.
Sheikh Ibn Baz stated that many hacilar mistakenly rub the Kabe'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 Hz. Peygamber, and it has no basis in authentic evidence. The blessings of the Kabe are in performing Tavaf around it, praying near it, and making dua facing it — not in physical contact with its cloth or walls.
Sheikh Al-Albani emphasized that Hz. Peygamber, who loved the Kabe more than anyone, only touched the Hacer-ul Esved and the Yemeni Corner. When Umar ibn al-Khattab kissed the Hacer-ul Esved, 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 Hacer-ul Esved 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 (sallallahu aleyhi ve sellem) kissing you, I would not have kissed you.'
Umar came to the Hacer-ul Esved 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 (sallallahu aleyhi ve sellem) kissing you, I would not have kissed you.'
I never saw Hz. Peygamber (sallallahu aleyhi ve sellem) touching anything of the Kabe except the two Yemeni corners (the Hacer-ul Esved and the Yemeni Corner).
I never saw Hz. Peygamber (sallallahu aleyhi ve sellem) touching anything of the Kabe except the two Yemeni corners (the Hacer-ul Esved and the Yemeni Corner).
Scholars from different schools of Islamic jurisprudence offer varying perspectives on this matter.
Only the Hacer-ul Esved and the Yemeni Corner should be touched. Touching the Kabe's cloth, walls, or other corners has no basis in the Sunnah.
Hanafi scholars limit istilam to what Hz. Peygamber practiced — the Hacer-ul Esved and Yemeni Corner.
Touching the Kabe beyond the Hacer-ul Esved 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 Hacer-ul Esved (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 Hacer-ul Esved and Yemeni Corner.
Only the Hacer-ul Esved and the Yemeni Corner are touched during Tavaf. Touching other parts of the Kabe is an innovation that should be avoided.
Al-Mughni by Ibn Qudamah: Hz. Peygamber 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 Hacer-ul Esved 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 (sallallahu aleyhi ve sellem) kissing you, I would not have kissed you.'
Sahih al-Bukhari #1597 (sahih)I never saw Hz. Peygamber (sallallahu aleyhi ve sellem) touching anything of the Kabe except the two Yemeni corners (the Hacer-ul Esved and the Yemeni Corner).
Sahih Muslim #1267 (sahih)