“ExHindu” (in response to an explanation regarding the Black Stone) wrote[dead link]:
- Give any explanation you want. I dont buy it. Arabs have been kissing that rock long before Mo[sic]. I call that IDOL Worshipping. You can label me as Islamophobe and I am proud that you give me that label. In the same manner, I anoint you a Hinduphobe.
I find it rather ironic to see someone who uses the moniker “ExHindu” accusing yours truly of being a “Hinduphobe”. After all, what does the use of the Internet username “ExHindu” really signify ? A case of the pot calling the kettle black, we cannot really say.
Nevertheless, I believe that it is time that a response to this rather annoying polemic about the nature of the Black Stone (al-Hajar al-Aswad) and its significance in Islam by those who have an axe to grind about Islam (or otherwise known tenderly as the “Islamophobics”) is finally needed.
We will look at the common allegations about the Black Stone and then seek to address the matters concerned, insha’Allah.
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Physical Description of the Black Stone (al-Hajar al-Aswad)
First, we shall describe the physical nature of the Stone itself. The Black Stone (Ar : ٱلْحَجَرُ ٱلْأَسْوَد, al-Hajar al-Aswad) is built into the Kaaba wall, at the eastern corner of the Kaaba, about 5 ft. above the ground level, not very far from the door of the Kaaba. The Kaaba itself can itself be described as a black box, which Muslims face in daily prayers.
Muslims believe that the Black Stone was originally given to Abraham, who built the Kaaba used the Black Stone as a corner stone for the structure. Abraham and Ishmael taught the early Makkan Arabs monotheism ; after the passing of Abraham and Ishmael, the Makkan Arabs with time regressed into pagan practices including idol worship. They ended up having a pantheon of gods, despite the original message of Abraham and Ishmael which taught the early Arabs to worship God alone (monotheism).
Going back to the Black Stone, it was originally a single piece of rock but todayconsists of three large pieces and several small fragments (in which it was formerly broken) stuck together and surrounded by a large ring of stone, which in turn is held together by a silver band.
Swiss traveller Johann Ludwig Burckhardt visited Mecca in 1814, and provided a detailed description as follows :
It is an irregular oval, about seven inches [18 cm] in diameter, with an undulated surface, composed of about a dozen smaller stones of different sizes and shapes, well joined together with a small quantity of cement, and perfectly well smoothed ; it looks as if the whole had been broken into as many pieces by a violent blow, and then united again. It is very difficult to determine accurately the quality of this stone which has been worn to its present surface by the millions of touches and kisses it has received. It appeared to me like a lava, containing several small extraneous particles of a whitish and of a yellow substance. Its colour is now a deep reddish brown approaching to black. It is surrounded on all sides by a border composed of a substance which I took to be a close cement of pitch and gravel of a similar, but not quite the same, brownish colour. This border serves to support its detached pieces ; it is two or three inches in breadth, and rises a little above the surface of the stone. Both the border and the stone itself are encircled by a silver band, broader below than above, and on the two sides, with a considerable swelling below, as if a part of the stone were hidden under it. The lower part of the border is studded with silver nails.
Burckhardt, Johann Ludwig (1829). Travels in Arabia, Comprehending an Account of Those Territories in Hedjaz which the Mohammedans Regard as Sacred. Henry Colburn, New Burlington Street. p. 250
It was narrated that Ibn ‘Abbaas said : The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said : “The Black Stone came down from Paradise.“
Material of the Black Stone
The material of the Black Stone has not been precisely determined. It is sometimes classified as lava and sometimes as basalt. The reason for this difficulty is that its visible surface is worn smooth by hand-touching, etc.
Some Islamophobes have begun a baseless attack on the appearance of the Black Stone by alleging that it looks like a vagina in order to insult Muslims. The silver frame around the Black Stone were for centuries maintained by the Ottoman Sultans in their role as Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. This silver frame is a modern addition and the structure look doughnut shaped as a result. The frames wore out over time due to the constant handling by pilgrims and were periodically replaced.
It is reported that when the Prophet Muhammad(P) entered the city of Makkah as a victorious leader, there were 360 idols around the Kaaba
Thus saying that “Muslims worship the Black Stone as an idol” is clearly the most absurd thing ever pronounced in the history of mankind.
Significance of the Black Stone
From a physical perspective, therefore, the Black Stone does not have any special significance or importance.
Umar(R), later to become the second Caliph of Islam, is reported to have said that he fully realized that the Black Stone was merely a stone and thus had no power of its own to harm or benefit anyone
As for the reasons as to why we have the Black Stone in the wall of the Kaaba, we read about the following reasons, that :
- (a) it symbolizes the starting-point during the circumambulation of the Ka’abah, thus facilitating the remembrance of the number of circumambulations.
(b) at this point, the Muslims, who are close to the Kaaba (during their circumambulation) touch the stone, while those who are away from it, raise their hands towards it, symbolizing the renewal of their pledge of allegiance with the Lord of the Kaaba. In this symbolic expression, the Black Stone is taken as a symbol of an oath on the hand of God.
And with this, it is clear that this baseless assertion of Islamophobes is refuted. And only God knows best ! 
Abudullah said on July 7 2007 : “and i like Emilia’s example of the bread and jesus’s body. i believe it’s called eucharist ? eating the eucharist doesn’t mean they’re worshiping it.”
Actually, yes, for Catholics, it does. Catholics are required to believe in the doctrine of Transubstantiation — that is, that during the Mass, the wafer —actually becomes— the body of Jesus. So the wafer is held up for the formal adoration of the congregation ; it is formally and officially worshiped before it is consumed.
This is not considered idolatry by Catholics because, to true believers, the bread is no longer bread. For a believing Catholic, the consecrated bread wafer is Jesus and Jesus is God. Abdullah is right, after consecration (the ritual blessing that believers think causes transubstantiation) the wafer is called the Eucharist (which is capitalized the way the word “god” is capitalized by religious people, since it is believed to be Jesus himself, and not mere bread any more).
I do not know how most Protestants handle this issue. I think Anglicans (Episcopalians) have the same doctrine of transubstantiation that Catholics do, but I don’t know about Lutherans, Baptists, etc.
I am very surprised by the shape of the silver frame around the Black Stone. I know it’s not possible, but I wish a tiny piece of the stone could be analyzed by modern science.
Isnt it said that the stars are Gods weapons. Would it be logical to assume the reason for the black stone in the Kabaa is to stress this message. Its often been assumed the stone was a meteorite although these has been no formal identification as yet.
When you worship something, whether it is Allah, Jesus, Communist Manifesto, Atheism etc., it gets into your head and an idol is formed. Or if you are a Hindu or idol worshipper, again, this idol is transferred to your head, and after some time you start worshipping that idol in your head. This happens irrespective of our religion. This becomes so much entwined with our self image that in effect we are worshipping ourselves. That is why we get so angry when someone says something against our God. (It is just like someone is calling your Mother names or questioning your sexual orientation etc.)
Even Muslims and Jews simply worship the idol they have created in their heads about Allah or Yahweh.
The danger is that they think that they are worshipping real God while they are worshipping themselves.
But a person who is worshipping real God will be full of compassion. He will not have anger towards those who abuse his religion, he will not pity them either, but he will have full compassion like Jesus nailed to cross prayed for forgiveness for his persecutors. Such people do not need religion, they don’t have to study and interpret holy books.
This idea, the simplest truth is unpalatable to everyone. So I expect this post to be deleted by the administrator.
We worship Allah s.w.t..we DONT worship the stone.AND we do KISS our wife and kids.Islam is ruin nowdays because of mankind itself.In the old days, some of them produce guessing,lying and other untruth matters…which resulting a conflict.Islam can be simple to others and can be hard to some stupid human..Prophet MUHAMMAD S.A.W tells you to worship ALLAH S.W.T and to do deeds and good things..even if you hate them..just like Prophet Isa(Jesus)did.This kind of attitude makes everybody loves him and bad guys envying him.Your Jesus is our prophet Isa a.s., except that bible has been altered.GOD DOESNT HAVE A SON..NOR IT PRODUCE THEM.He is the source and nutrient Himself.That stone is nothing but a stone..it doesnt matter.Even if it is from heaven,a muslim should still worship the Maker Himself…not some stone..
“Would you rather have your Allah who tells you to kill me in order to go to Heaven or my Jesus who tells me to love you because I am going to Heaven and wants you to be with me?”
This seems a simple matter, and it’s unfortunate that some have aroused such enmity about it.
It is possible to venerate a sacred object, yet not worship it. This is not too complicated to understand.
Christians are enjoined from worshipping idols (as in the Ten Commandments). Nevertheless it is not unusual for churches or other Christian organizations to display elaborate crucifixes which vividly portray the suffering of Jesus Christ. Images of the Virgin Mary are also numerous (particularly in Catholic settings).
A minority of Christian sects consider these images to be idolatrous. But most Christians do not, on the grounds that while these symbols are meaningful and intended to set a tone of serious reverence, the symbols are not objects of worship in and of themselves.
Similarly the Jewish people consider the Western Wall (remnant of the Second Temple) to be holy and may observe rites when visiting there, but again they worship their Lord and not the symbol of the Divine.
It is too easy to regard others’ traditions as odd, yet not realize that their own traditions may appear equally unusual from the point-of-view of those who have always observed different teachings.
Mohammed said idol worship was bad and only one god shud be worshipped
reason (1) the existing religion (not known which…not christianity and judaism) probably worshipped idols…he perhaps wanted the religion he foorme d to look different with its own identity and there by increase hiss milege among the followers.
on idol worship…idol is symbolised as God in Hinduism..God’s aura is being brought into an idol by by certain procedures that has been followed from 5000 odd years from the vedas.
no body can monopolise saying that idol worship is wrong and his religion is the real and true one. God can’t be monopolised just by saying that mohammed was sent mssages from God.
those are all absurd that matched the things of those times when men were nomads.
Reply to g on Jun 4, 2007
If you don’t worship the stone why do you kiss it ?
Sometimes I kiss my wife ! ;) Is it because I worship her ?
Did muhammed kiss the stone ?
Yeah !
If he did, then isn’t this ritual done out of emulation…
Certainly, This ritual is done out of emulation of Muhammad peace and blessings be upon him
…and thus idolising muhammed ?
I can’t understand how could it become idolising him. Muhammad peace and blessings be upon him was just a man. Once he walked on the surface of this earth. But he died about 1400 year ago. Muhammad had to eat, drink and sleep just like any of us. But he had a mission from God, almighty. That mission was to teach us about everything a human being has to do, to get eternal salvation. He completed his mission with ultimate responsibility. No human being could attain such a magnificent perfection in his life as Muhammad. However Muslims are expected to imitate him in every aspect of our life. Or simply, a man who imitate Muhammad peace and blessings be upon him in every aspect of his life is called a Muslim. A man who follow Moses, Jesus or any other prophets (peace and blessings be upon them all) is called a Muslim. A man who worship Moses, Jesus or Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon them all) is outside the fold of Islam.
I’m not an islamaphobe or whatever but I think that there are cracks in Islam. I also feel that if you want to stop having to call people islamaphobes more should be done to educate the uneducated.
You _think_that there are cracks in Islam. But ARE YOU SURE ? Could you PROVE it ? If you r gonna prove it. Is there a need to study Islam from the horse’s mouth ? Yes, STUDY ISLAM FROM IT’S SOURCE NOT FROM ANOTHER ISLAMOPHOBE. IF YOU DO THAT WE MUSLIMS ARE READY TO TAKE YOUR ARGUMENTS INTO FACE VALUE.
NOT for the purpose of converting the world, but to further gods interests by uniting all different faiths by way of wanting, sincerely, to get to know each other.
It is the duty of every Muslims to teach everyone about Islam. But it is not the duty of Muslims to convert everyone to Islam. We are commanded to debate with anyone, who wants to study Islam, in a way that is best. Muslims are neither commanded to suddenly stop a walking man and teach him about Islam nor are they commanded to offer food and medicine for a starving person and ask him to convert to Islam.
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Propaganda does not deceive people ; it merely helps them to deceive themselves. [Eric Hoffer]