Why Is The Black Stone Held Sacred In Islam?

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Every religion has its own set of mysteries. It is not possible for anyone to know all the nitty-gritty details about a particular religion. But it is somewhat interesting to know about the rituals, beliefs and customs of the various religions of the world.

Islam happens to be one of the religions which has been a matter of great interest among most people. There are many a practices in Islam which are shrouded by mystery to the people of other faiths. One of them is the mystery of the black stone in Kaaba. The black stone is the eastern cornerstone of the Kaaba which is the grand mosque at Mecca. The black stone is greatly revered by the Muslims and it is believed to date back to the time of Adam and Eve.

The stone is black in colour with an irregular surface. It is held together by a silver frame fastened with silver nails. The original size of the stone is still unclear as its recorded dimensions have changed considerably over time. According to the Islamic traditions and beliefs this stone fell on Earth from heaven to show Adam and Eve where to build the altar. There have been theories which claim that this stone is actually a meteorite but the hypothesis has not been proved.

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So, what is the significance of this black stone in Islam and why is it held sacred? Let us find out.

History Of The Black Stone
It is believed that the black stone came into existence much before Prophet Muhammad started preaching. According to scholars, the stone at Kaaba was dedicated to Hubal, a Nabatean deity. While others are of the view that the Kaaba itself was addressed as a female deity, three generation before the advent of Islam. Prophet Muhammad is believed to be the one who set this black stone on the wall of the Kaaba. The stone has suffered a lot of damage over the centuries as it was stolen and held for ransom by the various rulers. It has also been smashed and broken into seven pieces. Later it was restored using a silver ligament by Abd Allah ibn Zubayr.

Significance Of The Black Stone
The black stone plays an important role in the ritual of Haj. The pilgrims must walk seven times around the Kaaba in a counterclockwise direction. They attempt to kiss the black stone in all the seven times. However due to the huge rush of pilgrims it is practically not possible to kiss the stone every time. So, it is acceptable now for the pilgrims to simply point in the direction of the stone on their each round around the Kaaba. The black colour of the stone symbolises the essential spiritual virtue of detachment and giving up of ego which is required to progress towards God.

Mysteries Surrounding The Black Stone
It is a common belief that the black stone has the miraculous power to absorb the sins of a person who touches it. Apparently, the stone used to be a pure and dazzling one when it fell from the heaven. But as it kept absorbing the sins of the people, it turned black over time.

While the stone and its origins remains shrouded by mystery, the speculations still continue after all these centuries. Some believe it be the meteorite while others see the signs of a feministic pagan religion. While for believers it is a boon sent on Earth to take away the sins of man.