Prophet Muhammad (s): Difference between revisions

Placing [[al-Hajar al-Aswad]] (black stone) on the [[Ka'ba]] happened before the Prophet's (s) mission began and confirmed his social status amongst people of [[Mecca]]. History has it that the Ka'ba was respected even amongst the [[polytheism|polytheistic]] Arabs of the pre-Islam, during the [[Age of Ignorance]]. Once a flood damaged the Ka'ba and ruined its walls, the [[Quraysh]] reconstructed the walls. When they wanted to place the ''al-Hajar al-Aswad'' (black stone) onto the Ka'ba, an argument broke out between the chiefs of the Quraysh's families as to which of them should do it. Each of them wanted to have the honor of placing the stone back onto the Ka'ba. The argument was heated and they even brought a tub full of blood and put their hands in it, which was a type of pledge that they had to fight until one of them won. Finally, they agreed to accept the judgment of the first person who would enter [[al-Masjid al-Haram]] through the gate of Banu Shayba and to do whatever that person said. The first person who entered was Muhammad (s). The nobles of the Quraysh said that Muhammad (s) was trustworthy and that they would accept his judgment. Then, they told him what had happened. Muhammad (s) said, "Let us spread a piece of cloth." They did so, and he then placed the black stone on it. Then, he said that "The chief of every family should come and hold a corner of this cloth." They lifted up the cloth and brought the stone to the place it had to be installed, then he lifted the stone and placed it back onto the Ka'ba. By such a judgment, he prevented an imminent war.<ref>Shahīdī, ''Tārīkh-i taḥlīlī-yi Islām, p. 38.</ref>