Is it better to kiss the Noble Qur'an or the Black Stone, knowing that the stone neither benefits nor harms, while the Qur'an benefits and harms, and I find comfort?
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The questioner : Regarding kissing the Noble Qur'an, which is better: kissing the Noble Qur'an or the Black Stone? Knowing that the stone neither benefits nor harms, while the Qur'an benefits and harms, and I find psychological comfort in kissing the Noble Qur'an, for it is the speech of Allah the Exalted. It is also known that in the time of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), the Qur'an was not collected in a single mushaf, but was scattered. What do you say about this?
The Shaykh : I say regarding this that kissing the mushaf is a religious innovation (bid'ah) and not a recommended practice (sunnah). The one who does it is closer to sin than to safety, let alone reward. The one who kisses the mushaf has no reward. But is there sin on him or not? We say that as for his intention to honor the speech of Allah, there is no doubt that he is rewarded for that. But the kissing is a religious innovation (bid'ah); it was not in the time of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), nor was it in the time of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them). And as for the statementThe questioner : that it was not collected in a mushaf, yes, but it existed written on parchment and palm leaves and other things. It is not reported that the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) used to kiss what the verses were written on, nor that the Companions did that in his time, nor did they do it after the collection of the Qur'an. This indicates that it is from the religious innovations (bid'ah). Even if one finds comfort in kissing it, that does not mean it is prescribed (mashru') and a recommended practice (sunnah). If we went back to the tastes of people and their comfort in the permissibility of worship, the religion would be divided into many parts and sects. But the reference for that is the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him and his family). As for the comparison between it and the Black Stone, this is a comparison between a recommended practice (sunnah) and a religious innovation (bid'ah). It is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) that he used to kiss it during his circumambulation (tawaf). And it is established from the Commander of the Faithful, 'Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him), that he said when he kissed the stone: "By Allah, I know that you are a stone that neither harms nor benefits, and were it not that I saw the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) kissing you, I would not have kissed you." So our kissing of the Black Stone is not because the stone benefits us or harms us, but in following the Sunnah of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). If the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) had kissed the stone and all the corners, we would have done so, but he did not kiss anything except the stone. Therefore, there is nothing in the world for which kissing is prescribed (mashru') except the Black Stone only, as came in the circumambulation (tawaf) from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). And as for his statement: "The stone neither harms nor benefits, and the Qur'an harms and benefits," this is also an error. The Qur'an itself, the same letters, or the same mushaf in which the letters were written, neither harms nor benefits. What harms and benefits is acting upon the Qur'an by believing the reports, obeying the commands, and avoiding the prohibitions. Likewise, the stone itself neither benefits nor harms, but our kissing of it is an act of worship for which we receive reward, and this is a benefit.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good for this clarification.
The Shaykh : I say regarding this that kissing the mushaf is a religious innovation (bid'ah) and not a recommended practice (sunnah). The one who does it is closer to sin than to safety, let alone reward. The one who kisses the mushaf has no reward. But is there sin on him or not? We say that as for his intention to honor the speech of Allah, there is no doubt that he is rewarded for that. But the kissing is a religious innovation (bid'ah); it was not in the time of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), nor was it in the time of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them). And as for the statementThe questioner : that it was not collected in a mushaf, yes, but it existed written on parchment and palm leaves and other things. It is not reported that the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) used to kiss what the verses were written on, nor that the Companions did that in his time, nor did they do it after the collection of the Qur'an. This indicates that it is from the religious innovations (bid'ah). Even if one finds comfort in kissing it, that does not mean it is prescribed (mashru') and a recommended practice (sunnah). If we went back to the tastes of people and their comfort in the permissibility of worship, the religion would be divided into many parts and sects. But the reference for that is the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him and his family). As for the comparison between it and the Black Stone, this is a comparison between a recommended practice (sunnah) and a religious innovation (bid'ah). It is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) that he used to kiss it during his circumambulation (tawaf). And it is established from the Commander of the Faithful, 'Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him), that he said when he kissed the stone: "By Allah, I know that you are a stone that neither harms nor benefits, and were it not that I saw the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) kissing you, I would not have kissed you." So our kissing of the Black Stone is not because the stone benefits us or harms us, but in following the Sunnah of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). If the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) had kissed the stone and all the corners, we would have done so, but he did not kiss anything except the stone. Therefore, there is nothing in the world for which kissing is prescribed (mashru') except the Black Stone only, as came in the circumambulation (tawaf) from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). And as for his statement: "The stone neither harms nor benefits, and the Qur'an harms and benefits," this is also an error. The Qur'an itself, the same letters, or the same mushaf in which the letters were written, neither harms nor benefits. What harms and benefits is acting upon the Qur'an by believing the reports, obeying the commands, and avoiding the prohibitions. Likewise, the stone itself neither benefits nor harms, but our kissing of it is an act of worship for which we receive reward, and this is a benefit.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good for this clarification.