Interpretation of the hadith (that the Black Stone is the covenant of Allah on earth) and its grade

Question : Shaykh, what is the interpretation of the statement that the Black Stone is the covenant of Allah on His earth? And is the hadith authentic that the Stone was whiter than snow and then turned black because of the sins of the children of Adam?

Answer : Yes. As for the first point, that the Black Stone is the covenant of Allah on earth, and that whoever shakes its hand is as if he has shaken the hand of Allah: this hadith is not authentic from the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). It was only narrated from Ibn Abbas, and it is weak in itself as well. The meaning of it being the covenant of Allah on earth is not that it is the covenant of the Lord (Mighty and Majestic). For this reason, it says, "whoever shakes its hand is as if he has shaken the hand of Allah," and it does not say simply, "he has shaken the hand of Allah." The use of the simile indicates that there are two things: the thing being compared and the thing it is compared to, and each one is not the other. And when we say the hadith is weak, we are at ease.