What is the ruling on clinging to the Sacred Ka'bah, rubbing the cheeks against it, licking it with the tongue, wiping it with the palms, and then placing it on the chest of the pilgrim?
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The questioner : He also asks: What is the ruling on clinging to the Sacred Ka'bah, rubbing the cheeks against it, licking it with the tongue, wiping it with the palms, and then placing it on the chest of the pilgrim?
The Shaykh : This is among the religious innovations that are not permissible.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : It is closer to being forbidden, because this was not reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). The utmost that was reported in this matter is clinging to it, such that a person places his chest, cheek, and hands on the Ka'bah between the Black Stone and the door, not on all sides of the Ka'bah as the ignorant pilgrims do today. As for licking it with the tongue, or rubbing against the Ka'bah and then wiping the chest or body with it, this is a religious innovation in every case, because it was not reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : On this occasion, I would like to draw the attention of pilgrims to the fact that the purpose of touching the Black Stone and the Yemeni Corner is to worship Allah the Exalted by touching them, not to seek blessing from touching them.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : This is contrary to what the ignorant suppose, as they think that the purpose is to seek blessing. Therefore, you see some of them touch the Yemeni Corner or the Black Stone and then wipe their hand over their chest or face, or over the chest or face of their child. This is not prescribed, and it is a belief with no basis. There is a difference between worship and seeking blessing. It is indicated that the purpose is pure worship, not seeking blessing, by the fact that 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said while at 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) kissing you, I would not have kissed you". On this occasion, I would also like to clarify that what many of the ignorant do, rubbing against all the walls of the Ka'bah and all its corners, has no basis and is a religious innovation from which one is forbidden. When 'Abdullah ibn 'Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) saw Mu'awiyah (may Allah be pleased with him) touching all the corners, he rebuked him. Mu'awiyah said to him: "Nothing of the House is neglected". Ibn 'Abbas replied: "[Al-Ahzab 33:21] And I saw the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) touching the two Yemeni corners".
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : So Mu'awiyah returned to the statement of Ibn 'Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them). This indicates that touching the Ka'bah, or worshipping Allah the Exalted by touching it or its corners, is a form of worship in which one must follow only the reports of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The Shaykh : This is among the religious innovations that are not permissible.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : It is closer to being forbidden, because this was not reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). The utmost that was reported in this matter is clinging to it, such that a person places his chest, cheek, and hands on the Ka'bah between the Black Stone and the door, not on all sides of the Ka'bah as the ignorant pilgrims do today. As for licking it with the tongue, or rubbing against the Ka'bah and then wiping the chest or body with it, this is a religious innovation in every case, because it was not reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : On this occasion, I would like to draw the attention of pilgrims to the fact that the purpose of touching the Black Stone and the Yemeni Corner is to worship Allah the Exalted by touching them, not to seek blessing from touching them.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : This is contrary to what the ignorant suppose, as they think that the purpose is to seek blessing. Therefore, you see some of them touch the Yemeni Corner or the Black Stone and then wipe their hand over their chest or face, or over the chest or face of their child. This is not prescribed, and it is a belief with no basis. There is a difference between worship and seeking blessing. It is indicated that the purpose is pure worship, not seeking blessing, by the fact that 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said while at 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) kissing you, I would not have kissed you". On this occasion, I would also like to clarify that what many of the ignorant do, rubbing against all the walls of the Ka'bah and all its corners, has no basis and is a religious innovation from which one is forbidden. When 'Abdullah ibn 'Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) saw Mu'awiyah (may Allah be pleased with him) touching all the corners, he rebuked him. Mu'awiyah said to him: "Nothing of the House is neglected". Ibn 'Abbas replied: "
There has certainly been for you in the Messenger of Allah an excellent pattern
لقد كان لكم في رسول الله أسوة حسنةThe questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : So Mu'awiyah returned to the statement of Ibn 'Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them). This indicates that touching the Ka'bah, or worshipping Allah the Exalted by touching it or its corners, is a form of worship in which one must follow only the reports of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes.