SECTION 48 – OCCUPYING THE PILLARS OF THE KAABA
According to a narration from 'Abdullah ibn 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), he said: I have not seen the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) touch any part of the Ka'bah except for the two corners facing Yemen. [604]
Explanation: According to a narration from 'Abdullah ibn 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) said, "Touching the Black Stone and the Corner of Yemen expels sins."
Nasai also narrated on the authority of Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) said, “The Black Stone is from Paradise.”
It is related on the authority of 'Abdullah ibn 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him), leaning his back against the Ka'bah, said: "The Black Stone and the Station of Abraham were two rubies of paradise. If not for the light of Allah extinguishing them, they would illuminate between the East and West."
From Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him): On the Day of Resurrection, this stone will have two tongues and two lips, bearing witness to those who submit to it perfectly. It is related from Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) was performing tawaf around the Ka'bah on his camel, and whenever he reached the Black Stone, he would gesture towards it. Bukhari and Muslim narrated from 'Abdullah ibn 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) a question about the submission of the Black Stone.
'Abdullah ibn 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I saw the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) touch and kiss the Black Stone. Those who cannot kiss it due to crowding perform istilam with their hands and kiss their hands. In Bukhari and Muslim, Nafi' (may Allah be pleased with him) is reported as saying: "I heard 'Abdullah ibn 'Umar say: I touched the Black Stone with my hand and kissed my hand, and since that day I have not left it, having seen the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) do so." The istilam of the Black Stone has been reported from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) in three ways: kissing it, performing istilam with one's hand and kissing the hand, and performing istilam with a stick and kissing the stick. All these are narrated with authentic transmissions. This hadith is evidence that the Corner of Yemen is also performed istilam to. The meaning of the two corners facing Yemen is that one is the Black Stone and the other is the Corner of Yemen. Just as parents are called 'ebawayn,' the moon and sun are called 'qamarayn,' so too these two corners are called ‘Yemaniyyayn’ by way of taglib.
It is narrated from Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) that:
News was brought to Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) that “Indeed, a portion of the Hijr (of Isma’il) belongs to the Ka‘bah.” Ibn ‘Umar said:
“I think that Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) certainly heard this from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him).”
“I think that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) abandoning these two corners (of Iraq and Syria) is due to these corners not being on the foundation of the Ka‘bah which [Prophet] Ibrahim laid.” And “The pilgrims circling the Ka‘bah behind the Hijr (of Isma’il) is evidence that a portion of it belongs to the Ka‘bah.”
[605]
EXPLANATION:
Bukhari and Muslim narrated Ibn ‘Umar’s statement, and as will be clear from those narrations, touching the Maqam Ibrahim and the Yemeni corner indicates that they are upon the original foundations laid by [Prophet] Ibrahim. The abandonment of touching the other two corners – the Syrian and Iraqi corners – indicates that they are not upon those foundations.
It is narrated from 'Abdullah ibn Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, never omitted to touch the Black Stone at the Corner of Yemen during each circumambulation.
Nafi said: Abdullah ibn Umar would also not omit touching it, following the practice of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him.