We see in the Makkah Haram some people clinging to the curtains of the Ka'bah and its walls, and they remain in this state for a period of time. What is the ruling on that?
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The questioner : This questioner, Abu Usamah from Jeddah, says: O esteemed Shaykh, we see, O Shaykh Muhammad, in the Makkah Haram some people clinging to the curtains of the Ka'bah and its walls, and they remain in this state for a period of time. What is the ruling on that? They seek supplication in that state. Also, what is the ruling on people who take some coins in their hand and rub the coins on the Black Stone? Please inform us; may Allah reward you for that?
The Shaykh : Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and I send prayers and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, the Seal of the Prophets and the Imam of the righteous, and upon his family and his Companions, and those who follow them with excellence until the Day of Judgment. Clinging to the curtains of the Ka'bah, or pressing one's chest against them, or anything similar to that, is a religious innovation (bid'ah) with no basis. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family and his Companions) did not do that. The limit of what is reported regarding clinging (al-iltizam) is only between the door of the Ka'bah and the Black Stone. As for the rest of the sides of the Ka'bah and its corners, it is not reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family and his Companions) that they used to cling to them or press their chests against them.
Likewise, what the questioner mentioned about some pilgrims taking coins and rubbing them on the Black Stone is also a religious innovation (bid'ah) with no basis.
The Black Stone is not sought for blessing (tabarruk) by rubbing it; rather, it is an act of worship to Allah the Exalted by rubbing it, as the Commander of the Faithful, 'Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him), said while kissing the Black Stone: "I know that you are a stone that neither harms nor benefits, and were it not that I saw the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family and his Companions) kissing you, I would not have kissed you."
And it should be known that acts of worship are based on following (the Sunnah), not on personal taste and innovation. Not everything that comes to a person's mind and he approves of in his heart becomes an act of worship for Allah until he brings forth an authority from Allah Mighty and Majestic that it is something He loves and that brings one closer to Him.
And Allah the Exalted has rebuked those who worship with a law that He has not authorized, and He said:[Ash-Shuraa 42:21] It is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family and his Companions) that he said: Sahih Muslim 1718b Any deed that is not in accordance with our command is rejected, meaning it is returned to its doer and not accepted from him. The most we can say about these ignorant people is that they are excused due to their ignorance, but they are not rewarded for their action, because this is a religious innovation (bid'ah). And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family and his Companions) said:
So my advice to our brother pilgrims and those performing 'Umrah is to worship Allah the Exalted with knowledge, and not to draw near to Allah the Exalted with what He has not prescribed. And they should carry with them the rituals of Hajj and 'Umrah compiled by scholars who are trusted in their knowledge and their trustworthiness.
It is obligatory upon those who guide them, who are called the muwattifin (guides for tawaf), that they fear Allah Mighty and Majestic, and that they learn the rulings of Hajj and 'Umrah before they take on guiding people to them. And if they learn them, it is obligatory upon them to lead people to them, meaning to what the Sunnah brought regarding the rituals of Hajj and 'Umrah, so that they may be guides who are guided, callers to Allah the Exalted, and reformers. As for the situation remaining as it is now, where the muwattifin do not do anything that results in following the Sunnah, and the most they have is that they teach the pilgrims supplications in every lap without guiding them to the prescribed places of the rituals.
And it is known that assigning a specific supplication to each lap has no basis in the Sunnah; rather, it is a religious innovation (bid'ah) that the scholars (may Allah have mercy on them) have explicitly stated. It is not reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he assigned a specific supplication to the first lap, nor to the second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, or seventh. The most that is reported from him is the takbir (saying Allahu akbar) at the Black Stone and saying[Al-Baqarah 2:201] between the Yemeni Corner and the Black Stone. And Ibn 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) used to say at the beginning of his tawaf: "In the name of Allah, and Allah is the Greatest. O Allah, [I do this] with faith in You, and confirmation of Your Book, and fulfillment of Your covenant, and following the Sunnah of Your Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him and his family and his Companions)."
And the summary, or the summary of the answer to this question, is that it is not prescribed for a person to rub himself against the covering of the Ka'bah, or against any of its corners, or against any of the sides of its walls, or to press his back against that. Rather, this is a religious innovation (bid'ah) that is not reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family and his Companions). The most that is there is that clinging (al-iltizam) is reported from them, and its place is between the Black Stone and the door of the Ka'bah.
Likewise, what concerns kissing the Black Stone, touching it, and touching the Yemeni Corner. We ask Allah the Exalted for us and for our brothers to guide us to His straight path, the path of those upon whom Allah has bestowed favor, of the prophets, the truthful, the martyrs, and the righteous.
The questioner : Amen. May Allah bless you.
The Shaykh : Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and I send prayers and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, the Seal of the Prophets and the Imam of the righteous, and upon his family and his Companions, and those who follow them with excellence until the Day of Judgment. Clinging to the curtains of the Ka'bah, or pressing one's chest against them, or anything similar to that, is a religious innovation (bid'ah) with no basis. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family and his Companions) did not do that. The limit of what is reported regarding clinging (al-iltizam) is only between the door of the Ka'bah and the Black Stone. As for the rest of the sides of the Ka'bah and its corners, it is not reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family and his Companions) that they used to cling to them or press their chests against them.
Likewise, what the questioner mentioned about some pilgrims taking coins and rubbing them on the Black Stone is also a religious innovation (bid'ah) with no basis.
The Black Stone is not sought for blessing (tabarruk) by rubbing it; rather, it is an act of worship to Allah the Exalted by rubbing it, as the Commander of the Faithful, 'Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him), said while kissing the Black Stone: "I know that you are a stone that neither harms nor benefits, and were it not that I saw the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family and his Companions) kissing you, I would not have kissed you."
And it should be known that acts of worship are based on following (the Sunnah), not on personal taste and innovation. Not everything that comes to a person's mind and he approves of in his heart becomes an act of worship for Allah until he brings forth an authority from Allah Mighty and Majestic that it is something He loves and that brings one closer to Him.
And Allah the Exalted has rebuked those who worship with a law that He has not authorized, and He said:
Or have they other deities who have ordained for them a religion to which Allah has not consented?
أَم لَهُم شُرَكاءُ شَرَعوا لَهُم مِنَ الدّينِ ما لَم يَأذَن بِهِ اللَّهُHe who did any act for which there is no sanction from our behalf, that is to be rejected.
من عمل عملا ليس عليه أمرنا فهو ردEvery innovation is misguidance.
كل بدعة ضلالةSo my advice to our brother pilgrims and those performing 'Umrah is to worship Allah the Exalted with knowledge, and not to draw near to Allah the Exalted with what He has not prescribed. And they should carry with them the rituals of Hajj and 'Umrah compiled by scholars who are trusted in their knowledge and their trustworthiness.
It is obligatory upon those who guide them, who are called the muwattifin (guides for tawaf), that they fear Allah Mighty and Majestic, and that they learn the rulings of Hajj and 'Umrah before they take on guiding people to them. And if they learn them, it is obligatory upon them to lead people to them, meaning to what the Sunnah brought regarding the rituals of Hajj and 'Umrah, so that they may be guides who are guided, callers to Allah the Exalted, and reformers. As for the situation remaining as it is now, where the muwattifin do not do anything that results in following the Sunnah, and the most they have is that they teach the pilgrims supplications in every lap without guiding them to the prescribed places of the rituals.
And it is known that assigning a specific supplication to each lap has no basis in the Sunnah; rather, it is a religious innovation (bid'ah) that the scholars (may Allah have mercy on them) have explicitly stated. It is not reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he assigned a specific supplication to the first lap, nor to the second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, or seventh. The most that is reported from him is the takbir (saying Allahu akbar) at the Black Stone and saying
Our Lord, give us in this world [that which is] good and in the Hereafter [that which is] good and protect us from the punishment of the Fire."
رَبَّنا ءاتِنا فِي الدُّنيا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنا عَذابَ النّارِAnd the summary, or the summary of the answer to this question, is that it is not prescribed for a person to rub himself against the covering of the Ka'bah, or against any of its corners, or against any of the sides of its walls, or to press his back against that. Rather, this is a religious innovation (bid'ah) that is not reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family and his Companions). The most that is there is that clinging (al-iltizam) is reported from them, and its place is between the Black Stone and the door of the Ka'bah.
Likewise, what concerns kissing the Black Stone, touching it, and touching the Yemeni Corner. We ask Allah the Exalted for us and for our brothers to guide us to His straight path, the path of those upon whom Allah has bestowed favor, of the prophets, the truthful, the martyrs, and the righteous.
The questioner : Amen. May Allah bless you.