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Touching
or kissing the stone has a profound impact on the
faithful, as it is suppose to count in their favour
on Judgment Day. The great Muslim traveller from
Valencia, Ibn Jubayr (1145-1217) describes the emotion
he felt on touching the stone, "The stone,
when one kisses it, has a softness and freshness
which delights the mouth; so much so that he who
places his lips upon it wishes never to remove them.
[…] It suffices, moreover, that the Prophet
said that it is the "Right Hand" of God
on earth."
The single most important reason for kissing the
stone is that Prophet Muhammad (God's peace and
blessings be upon him) did so. No devotional significance
whatsoever is attached to the stone. The Caliph,
Umar ibn al-Khattab (May God be pleased with him),
made this crystal clear when, on kissing the stone
himself in emulation of the Prophet, he proclaimed,
"I know that you are but a stone, incapable
of doing good or harm. Had I not seen the Messenger
of God kiss you - may God's blessing and peace be
upon him - I would not kiss you." (CDLXXXIV;
Sahih Muslim; Kitab al-Hajj; p. 642)
Kissing or touching the Black Stone is a reverential
act of acknowledgment that God's hand directed its
placement and construction. That Abraham and Muhammad,
(God's blessing and peace be upon them), had touched
and kissed the stone and an acknowledgment that
God had entrusted the "cornerstone" of
His religious central focus for man upon that hollowed
and sacred place.
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