Is the Black Stone from Heaven?

Question: 21402

It was narrated that ‘Umar kissed the Black Stone and said: “I know that you are only a stone and that you can neither bring benefit nor cause harm. Had I not seen the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) kiss you, I would not have kissed you.” Did the Black Stone come down from heaven? Or is it just a stone like any other stone? What is the significance of this stone being put in this place? Some people think that it is the qiblah faced by the Muslims when they pray – Allah forbid.

Summary of answer

According to a hadith narrated by al-Tirmidhi and others, the Black Stone came down from heaven, but there is some weakness in the isnad of this report.

Answer

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah and his family.

The Black Stone was singled out by Allah, as He prescribed for us to kiss it and touch it, and He willed that it should be set in the corner of the Ka`bah which we face when we pray. He prescribed that the people who do tawaf should touch it and kiss it if they are able to, and if they cannot do that, then they should point to it when they come in line with it, and say “Allahu akbar.”

According to a hadith narrated by al-Tirmidhi and others, the Black Stone came down from heaven, but there is some weakness in the isnad of this report. The hadith was narrated by al-Tirmidhi and classed as sahih by al-Albani in Sahih al-Tirmidhi, 695.

And Allah is the Source of strength. May Allah send blessings and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and Companions.

And Allah knows best.

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Source:

Al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah li’l-Buhooth al-‘Ilmiyyah wa’l-Iftaa’ – Fataawa al-Lajnah, 11/228