11/47. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 1873 — Kissing the Black Stone
On Kissing The Black Stone
Hadith About Kissing the Black Stone
Sunan Abi Dawud : 1873
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 1873
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ كَثِيرٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، عَنْ عَابِسِ بْنِ رَبِيعَةَ، عَنْ عُمَرَ، أَنَّهُ جَاءَ إِلَى الْحَجَرِ فَقَبَّلَهُ فَقَالَ إِنِّي أَعْلَمُ أَنَّكَ حَجَرٌ لاَ تَنْفَعُ وَلاَ تَضُرُّ وَلَوْلاَ أَنِّي رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُقَبِّلُكَ مَا قَبَّلْتُكَ .
'Umar Narrated from:
Abis bin Rabi’ah said on the authority of ‘Umar He(‘Umar) came to the (Black) Stone and said “ I know for sure that you are a stone which can neither benefit nor injure and had I not seen the Apostle of Allaah(ﷺ) kissing you, I would not have kissed you.”
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 1873In-book reference : Book 11, Hadith 153English translation : Book 10, Hadith 1868
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 1873
This Hadith gives a powerful statement from ‘Umar at the Black Stone. He said that he knew the Stone was only a stone and that it could neither benefit nor harm. He then said that if he had not seen the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم kissing it, he would not have kissed it. The core topic is following the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم in worship. For searches like hadith about Black Stone, Umar kissing Black Stone, or Black Stone cannot benefit or harm, this narration is very direct. It teaches that the act is followed because of the Prophet’s example, not because the stone itself has power.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Black Stone itself does not benefit or harm.
- ‘Umar kissed it because he saw the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم do so.
- The Hadith teaches following the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم without false beliefs about objects.
