THE BLACK STONE & THE TRUSTWORTHY

THE BLACK STONE & THE TRUSTWORTHY

When the wall was completed up to the spot where the Black Stone (Al-Hajr Al-Aswad) was located, a dispute arose. Each chieftain claimed the honour of putting the Black Stone in place. The crisis continued for four or five days, and bloodshed was imminent. At that time, Abu Umayya – the oldest among them – found a solution to the problem. He suggested that the next man who entered the gate of the Ka’bah should be given the authority to settle the dispute. Everyone agreed to this suggestion, and it was by the will of Allah that the next man to enter the gate was Muhammad .

“It’s Muhammad,” they said as soon as they saw him coming.
“Since he is trustworthy, we all agree to abide by his decision.” When Muhammad learned the details of the dispute, he asked them to bring him a sheet. He then took the Black Stone, and placing it on the sheet, asked each clan to take hold of an edge of the sheet and lift it in unison. When the Black Stone was lifted up by the tribal chieftains, Muhammad pushed it into place with his own hands. Everyone was satisfied with Muhammad’s decision, and a great conflict was averted. 

The Black Stone rests about one and a half meters above the ground, with the Ka’bah door about half a meter above the Black Stone, The Quraysh did not lower the position of the door because they did not want anyone to enter the Ka’bah without their permission. They also doubled the height of the walls from nine to eighteen cubits, added a roof (fifteen cubits in height), and six pillars in two rows inside the Ka’bah to support it.⁦⁩⁦

Muhammad’s character before Prophethood

 From childhood, Muhammad was exceptionally intelligent and chaste, and was highly regarded for his honesty, valour, justice, piety, patience, modesty, loyalty and hospitality. Abu Talib described his beloved nephew in the following words: He is fair and handsome. From his visage, mercy falls like rain. He is a shelter for the orphan and protector of widows.

Muhammad maintained good relations with his family, bore other’s burdens, and guided the destitute towards self sufficiency.

In keeping with his future role as Allah’s Messenger, one who was to outlaw all aspects of idolatry and polytheism, Muhammad had an inherent hatred for the prevailing paganism of his time. Thus although he was an integral part of his society, Muhammad never attended any of the important festivals and fairs that revolved round idol worship and drinking. He was also careful not to eat the flesh of any animal slaughtered in the name of someone other than Allah, and avoided touching or even coming close to idols. He especially detested hearing oaths sworn upon the pagan’s two most famous idols, Lat and Uzza.

Portents of Prophethood 

With his aversion to some of the most cohesive social ties in Makkan society, it was inevitable that Muhammad would grow apart from his fellow Makkans and their depraved way of life that included public drunkenness and female infanticide. He began to long for solitude, and preferred to spend his time alone, away from the noisy festivals and crowded markets. At the same time, he felt the need to save his people from the destruction he felt was imminent.

His discontentment grew, and he began to seek refuge in the cave of Hira2⁦⁩. Here he would spend long periods alone, and it was here that he worshipped not idols or imagined gods, but the one true God – Allah.⁦⁩

Following the monotheistic practice of his forefather, Ibraheem , every year, for three consecutive years, he spent the month of Ramadan in the cave. He would then return to Makkah, circumambulate the Ka’bah and then go back home.

When Muhammad reached forty years of age, he began to experience what could be called portents of Prophethood. He would have visions, and whatever appeared to him in these visions and dreams would come true.

NEXT TIME WE WILL TALK ABOUT THE FIRST REVELATION “READ” 

TO BE CONTINUED IN SHA ALLAH