What is the authenticity of the hadith: “The Black Stone is the right hand of Allah on earth…”?
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Question:
The questioner, Salah 'Umar from Yemen, sent a set of questions. He begins this message by saying: What is the authenticity of this hadith: “The Black Stone is the right hand of Allah on earth, and whoever shakes hands with it is as if he has shaken hands with Allah”? What is the authenticity of this hadith, O honorable Shaykh?
Answer:
It is known that this is narrated from Ibn 'Abbas, and as far as I know, it has no sound chain of narration from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). However, its meaning is correct, which is the permissibility of shaking hands, meaning: the permissibility of touching it. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to touch it with his hand and kiss it; this is established in authentic hadiths. As for this specific wording: “the right hand of Allah on earth,” I do not know of an authentic hadith regarding it. It is only narrated from Ibn 'Abbas, and there is doubt about its authenticity. But its meaning is correct: that it is a recommended practice to shake hands with it, meaning: to touch it with the right hand if that is possible, and to kiss it. If that is not possible, one touches it and kisses the hand, or touches it with a stick and kisses the stick. If that is not possible either, one points to it and says Allahu Akbar. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did all of this. In the two Sahihs, it is narrated from 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) that when he circumambulated the House, he kissed the Stone and said: “I know that you are a stone that neither harms nor benefits, and were it not that I saw the Prophet kissing you, I would not have kissed you” (peace and blessings be upon him).
The point is: that kissing it and touching it is a recommended practice, and it is not the right hand of Allah. But the intended meaning is a simile, meaning: whoever shakes hands with it is as if he has shaken hands with Allah. And it is the right hand of Allah, an attribute of His essence , and He, Glorified and Exalted is He, is above the Throne. But whoever shakes hands with this stone is as if he has shaken hands with Allah, meaning: in terms of attaining virtue, drawing near to Allah, and receiving reward. Yes; that is why he said: “as if he has shaken hands,” he did not say: “he has shaken hands with Allah,” but “as if he has shaken hands with Allah.” Yes.
The presenter: Fine, may Allah reward you with good.
The questioner, Salah 'Umar from Yemen, sent a set of questions. He begins this message by saying: What is the authenticity of this hadith: “The Black Stone is the right hand of Allah on earth, and whoever shakes hands with it is as if he has shaken hands with Allah”? What is the authenticity of this hadith, O honorable Shaykh?
Answer:
It is known that this is narrated from Ibn 'Abbas, and as far as I know, it has no sound chain of narration from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). However, its meaning is correct, which is the permissibility of shaking hands, meaning: the permissibility of touching it. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to touch it with his hand and kiss it; this is established in authentic hadiths. As for this specific wording: “the right hand of Allah on earth,” I do not know of an authentic hadith regarding it. It is only narrated from Ibn 'Abbas, and there is doubt about its authenticity. But its meaning is correct: that it is a recommended practice to shake hands with it, meaning: to touch it with the right hand if that is possible, and to kiss it. If that is not possible, one touches it and kisses the hand, or touches it with a stick and kisses the stick. If that is not possible either, one points to it and says Allahu Akbar. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did all of this. In the two Sahihs, it is narrated from 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) that when he circumambulated the House, he kissed the Stone and said: “I know that you are a stone that neither harms nor benefits, and were it not that I saw the Prophet kissing you, I would not have kissed you” (peace and blessings be upon him).
The point is: that kissing it and touching it is a recommended practice, and it is not the right hand of Allah. But the intended meaning is a simile, meaning: whoever shakes hands with it is as if he has shaken hands with Allah. And it is the right hand of Allah, an attribute of His essence , and He, Glorified and Exalted is He, is above the Throne. But whoever shakes hands with this stone is as if he has shaken hands with Allah, meaning: in terms of attaining virtue, drawing near to Allah, and receiving reward. Yes; that is why he said: “as if he has shaken hands,” he did not say: “he has shaken hands with Allah,” but “as if he has shaken hands with Allah.” Yes.
The presenter: Fine, may Allah reward you with good.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.