- The Black Stone (Arabic: الحجر الأسود al-Ḥajar al-Aswad) is the eastern cornerstone of the Kaaba, the ancient stone building toward which Muslims pray, in the center of the Grand Mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. It is revered by Muslims as an Islamic relic, which, according to Muslim tradition, dates back to the time of Adam and Eve.[1]
The stone was venerated at the Kaaba in pre-Islamic pagan times. It was set intact into the Kaaba's wall by the Islamic Prophet Muhammad in the year 605 A.D., five years before his first revelation. Since then it has been broken into a number of fragments and is now cemented into a silver frame in the side of the Kaaba. Its physical appearance is that of a fragmented dark rock, polished smooth by the hands of millions of pilgrims. Islamic tradition holds that it fell from Heaven to show Adam and Eve where to build an altar. Although it has often been described as a meteorite, this hypothesis is now uncertain.[2]
Muslim pilgrims circle the Kaaba as part of the Tawaf ritual of the Hajj. Many of them try, if possible, to stop and kiss the Black Stone, emulating the kiss that Islamic tradition records that it received from Muhammad.[3] If they cannot reach it, they point to it on each of their seven circuits around the Kaaba.[4]
Recently a friend sent me this photo after I made the comment, "Every circle needs a center". It's a remarkable image, isn't it? I knew nothing of the Black Stone and it's lore and thought I would post about it.
Has anyone here ever been to Mecca? Anyone kissed the stone?
The center of that circle is a void. The 'stone' is an 'adornment' of a 'facade' of the 'empty' 'box'. It used to be full of idols, but then the Prophet (SAW) knocked them all into little pieces and swept that box clean of idolatry. Now this is what you need to picture in your mind: 5 revolving timezones continually sweep the globe. Any Muslim that find himself or herself in one of those timezones is prostrating towards that 'empty' 'box'. This happens all around the globe, and as the globe turns, different radials are activated and others deactivated. So there is this wonderful dynamic arrangement of souls bowing towards one another, each saying in their hearts (if they are indeed faithful) that "There is no god but God" while they prostrate towards one another. Now 'boxes' are very interesting. In Semitic languages 'box' and 'chest' and 'crib' and 'ark' are all derivatives of the same root letters. Now Noah (SAW) carried the chosen remnant in an 'ark', and then the Israelites carried the Commandments in a 'box' (Ark of Covenant), and then the "word of God" (Salaam is ever upon him) (you know who) spoke as a babe in a 'box' (Crib in the manger), and now here we are, in the final act, where sons and daughters of Adam (SAW) bow to one another arrayed in a living circle towards an 'empty box'. (You too have a 'box' that you carry with you and it is your 'chest' where this Spiritual organ called the Heart resides. Now, the thing to do is make sure your box is entirely empty and void of any idols just like the Box in Mecca.)
These are salutations of Salaam and Blessings of God. SAW - Blessings of Allah and His Salaam upon him and his progeny. This is applied to Abraham (SAW) and Muhammad (SAW). All believers are progeny of Abraham. All Believers who have 'Surrendered' (i.e. "Muslim") are progeny of Mohammad. So this is a extended family blessing, directed at the head of the family. SA - Blessings of Allah and His Salaam upon him. This is applied to the Brotherhood of the Messengers and Prophets of God. All of them, as in Isaac (SA). It is also applied to the Ali (SA) and his sons (SA). "The Seers of my community are like the prophets of Israel" (Hadith). RA - God be Pleased/find-Acceptable with him/her. This is for Disciples of Messengers, and Saints of God e.g. Saint Francis (RA), Peter (RA), Joshua (RA), Salaam is ever upon him/her: "Salaam is upon me on the day of my birth, the day that I die, and the day I shall be Raised to Life again" - Jesus speaking in crib Q Sura 19 "Mary" - The word of God testifying to the Purity of the womb that bore It when she was questioned by her family. That last is only for Mary and her son. According to the Prophet, only 2 human beings have ever been (and ever will) come to being in this world untouched by Satan. And they are Mary and her Son. Everyone else -- including the Prophet who was cleansed by Angels and a 'spot' removed from his heart -- needs to go through a cleaning regiment. Hope that answers your questions, and God Knows Best.
SAW = Sala Allah Alihi Wa salam ( Same meaning in Arabic) We are commanded by the Prophet and God to say this after mentioning his name I think that makes sense in context now... apologies again for my ignorance.PBUH = Peace be upon him
- 5 revolving timezones continually sweep the globe. Any Muslim that find himself or herself in one of those timezones is prostrating towards that 'empty' 'box'. This happens all around the globe, and as the globe turns, different radials are activated and others deactivated. So there is this wonderful dynamic arrangement of souls bowing towards one another, each saying in their hearts (if they are indeed faithful) that "There is no god but God" while they prostrate towards one another.
edit: Alright, I feel bad now because the more I think about it the more impressive the gesture is. Not because of the logistics of timing it daily and "time zones" etc, but because getting that many people to do something in a spiritual unification is impressive. This is assuming that the people doing this are in unison on that level. How this could be verified is beyond me. I wonder if any experiments have ever been done to this end? Having thousands of people focus in unison on some desired outcome?