Istilam al-Hajar: Difference between revisions

'''Istilām al-hajar''' (Arabic: {{ia|استلام الحجر}}, lit, Touch of the Stone) is to touch and kiss [[Hajar al-Aswad]] (the Black Stone) with the intention of being blessed. There are different [[hadith]]s in which istilam al-hajar is commanded, which is interpreted by [[jurist]]s as the act being [[mustahabb]] (recommended). According to a hadith from [[Imam al-Sadiq (a)]], the philosophy behind the act is that the Black Stone will testify in one's favor on the [[Day of Judgment]].

{{main|The Black Stone}}

Literally, "istilam" means to touch and kiss for purposes of blessing. Terminologically, it refers to the act of touching al-Hajar al-Aswad and its corners. It is discussed under the issues of hajj.

There are different hadiths in which "istilam" of the Black Stone is commanded. Imam al-Sadiq (a) says, "… then touch al-Hajar al-Aswad and kiss it, and if you could not kiss it, then rob your hand over it, and if you could not do this, then point to it …". It is reported that the [[Prophet (s)]] touched the Black Stone when he performed [[mustahabb]] or [[obligatory]] (wajib) [[tawaf]] (or circumambulation around the Ka'ba). "Istilam" of al-Hajar al-Aswad is an act agreed upon by different Islamic denominations. Even Ibn Taymiyya and his followers who take the touching or kissing of sacred objects to amount to [[kufr]] (disbelief in Islam) permit this in the case of the Black Stone. In his book, Ibn Taymiyya says, "Circumambulation, the touching of corners, and the kissing of the Black Stone and … only in the case of [[al-Masjid al-Haram]]".

[[Imam al-Sadiq (a)]] was asked about why the Black Stone should be touched and kissed. He said, "The touching and kissing of the Black Stone is because when the Exalted God made His servants testify for a covenant with Him, He brought the Black Stone from the [[Heaven]] and ordered it to swallow the covenant. Thus, if one is faithful to the covenant with God, the Black Stone will testify that he did not violated the covenant."

[[Jurist]]s have cited different hadiths to show that it is mustahabb to touch and kiss the Black Stone. The ruling includes women as well. Thus, some jurists maintain that istilam al-hajar is mustahabb for women if there are no illegitimate consequences. It is notable that the ruling of istihbab (being [[mustahabb]]) for kissing and touching the Black Stone is suspended in certain conditions, such as times when the areas around the Ka'ba are too crowded and the "istilam" leads to harassment. This is true for both men and women alike.

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