Encyclopedia of Islam

Further reading: Carl W. Ernst, Words of Ecstasy in 

Sufism (Albany: State University of New York Press, 

Bistami, Abu Yazid al-

  

107  J

---

1985): 212–250; Michael Sells, Islamic Mysticism: Sufi, 

Quran, Miraj, Poetic and Theological Writings (New 

York: Paulist Press, 1996).

Black Muslims

  See a

frican

 a

mericans

, i

slam

 

among

; n

ation

 

of

 i

slam

.

Black Stone

The Black Stone is a sacred rock encased with 

silver that has been placed in the southeastern 

corner of the k

aaba

 in m

ecca

. Though it is not 

mentioned in the q

Uran

, it is discussed in the 

hadith

, commentaries, and historical literature. 

Its exact origins are uncertain, though it was 

probably one of the sacred objects worshipped 

in Mecca in pre-Islamic times. Western scholars 

assert that it may have originally been a meteorite. 

Early Muslim accounts say that it was originally 

a radiant white sapphire brought by g

abriel

 to 

Adam after his expulsion from 

paradise

. It turned 

to black as a result of being touched by idolaters 

who were ritually impure. Another early story says 

that Gabriel brought it to Ismail from a nearby 

mountain when he and his father, a

braham

, were 

constructing the Kaaba and that they were the 

ones who inserted the stone into the building’s 

southeastern corner. When the q

Uraysh

 tribe was 

rebuilding the Kaaba early in the seventh century, 

m

Uhammad

 is reported to have been entrusted to 

put the Black Stone back in its place when tribal 

factions could not agree which one among them-

selves should do so. Some traditions state that the 

Black Stone will develop the ability to speak on 

J

Udgment

 d

ay

 in order to testify on behalf of those 

who have kissed or touched it in good faith.

Despite the uncertainty of its origins, it is 

indeed a focus of ritual activity on the part of 

pilgrims who go to Mecca for the 

haJJ

 and 

umra

.

The pilgrims’ seven circumambulations of the 

Kaaba should begin and end at the corner where 

the Black Stone is, and each time they pass it they 

are supposed to kiss, touch, or salute it with their 

right hands. This practice is controversial because 

to an outsider it appears to be a form of 

idolatry

.

Muslims deny this and refer to a hadith wherein 

the caliph U

mar

 

ibn

 

al

-k

hattab

 (d. 644) says, “By 

God, I am kissing you knowing that you are a 

stone and that you can neither do any harm nor 

good. If I had not seen God’s Prophet [Muham-

mad] kissing you, I would not have kissed you.” 

Thus, Muslims understand that they are respect-

fully imitating the actions of their 

prophet

 rather 

than worshipping the stone itself.

See also a

dam

 

and

 e

ve

.