What is the ruling on touching and kissing the Black Stone?

Question : The questioner says: I saw some of the circumambulators pushing their wives to kiss the Black Stone. Which is better: kissing the Black Stone, or staying away from the crowding of men?

Answer : If this questioner saw this strange matter, I have seen something stranger. I saw a man who, before completing his obligatory prayer, would rush with great effort to kiss the Black Stone, thereby invalidating his obligatory prayer, which is one of the pillars of Islam, in order to do this matter that is not obligatory and not prescribed either, except when it is combined with the tawaf (circumambulation). This is the complete ignorance of people that causes one to grieve. Kissing the Black Stone and touching it is not a sunnah (recommended practice) except in the tawaf, because I do not know that touching it independently of the tawaf is from the sunnah. And I say in this place that I do not know, and I hope that whoever has knowledge contrary to what I know will inform us of it, may Allah reward him with good. So it is among the recommended practices of the tawaf. Then, it is not recommended except where there is no harm to the circumambulator or to others. If there is harm to the circumambulator or to others, then we move to the second rank that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) prescribed for us, whereby a person touches the Black Stone with his hand and kisses his hand. If this rank is also not possible except with harm or difficulty, then we move to the third rank that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) prescribed for us, which is pointing to it. So we point to it with our hand, not with both hands, but with our single right hand, we point to it and do not kiss it. This was the sunnah of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). And if the matter is more severe and harsh, as the questioner mentions, that a person pushes his women, perhaps the woman is pregnant, or an old woman, or a young girl who cannot bear it, or a child he lifts in his hand to kiss the Black Stone. All of this is from the blameworthy matters; because it causes harm to the family, and harassment, and crowding of the men. And all of this is something that fluctuates between prohibition and dislike. So a person should not do that as long as the matter is, praise be to Allah, spacious. So be spacious with yourself, and do not be severe, lest Allah be severe with you.