Kissing the Black Stone cannot be twisted into an idol worship

Submitted by Nuray (Portugal), Jan 18, 2006 at 18:11

We Muslims don't get confused about the Black Stone. It is just a stone which shows the starting point of the walking around the Kaaba during Hajj. Muslims kiss or touch it if they can reach at each circle. This is just done once in a life time. Hajj is also not compulsory for poor people who can't afford going to Mecca. Therefore, Kissing Black Stone is nothing more than kissing any holy object.

Kissing the Black Stone can't be considered as an action of idol worship. The stone has no shape or image like statues of Jesus or saints in Vatican. Muslims don't carry any stone or idol with themselves. No one can see any idol neither in the Muslim houses nor mosques. Muslims don't worship any image. We don't have any picture or statue of him. His grave in Prophet Mosque in Medina city. But Muslims who believes in God of Abraham come together around Kaaba built by Abraham and his son Ismael in Mecca.

Then, why Muslims kiss the Black Stone? They follow what their messengers did before.
‘Umar (the second Caliph) came near the Black Stone and kissed it and said, "No doubt, I know that you are a stone and can either harm anyone nor benefit anyone. Had I not seen Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) kissing you, I would not have kissed you. (Al-Bukhari)

As time passes the size of the stone will decrease due to mass amount of touching and eventually there will be no more Black Stone in Kaaba. But Islam will continue to be true path to God of Abraham.

If you go to Buddhist temple you can see statue of Buddha or if you go to church you can see statue of Jesus but if you go to a mosque you can't find any statue of Muhammed, peace upon him. He said: "Do not over-praise me as the Christians over-praised Jesus the son of Mary. I am His slave, so say: 'God's slave and messenger'."(Al-Bukhari )

Nuray

P.S : What will I gain if I get angry with you? I won't. I am not only the Muslim who can describe Islam. But I am the one you asked. I didn't read the message (Google? What's Google? .. ) The title made me laugh. I should admit that you had good sense of humor. Sometimes it is good to smile while discussing serious subjects.

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