black stone arabic eastern cornerstone ancient stone building located center grand mosque saudi_arabia revered muslims islamic according muslim tradition dates time adam eve stone pre islamic pagan times according islamic tradition set intact wall islamic prophet muhammad year years revelation broken number fragments cemented silver frame physical appearance fragmented dark rock polished smooth hands pilgrims islamic tradition holds fell heaven guide adam eve build altar described hypothesis uncertain muslim pilgrims circle ritual try stop kiss black stone kiss islamic tradition records received muhammad physical description black stone consists number fragments held silver frame silver nails smaller fragments cemented form seven fragments visible today stone exposed face measures centimetres centimetres original size unclear recorded dimensions changed considerably time stone occasions 10th century observer described long early 17th century recorded measuring metres metres according 18th century described centimetres high reported centimetres long centimetres wide mentioned western literature 19th early 20th centuries european travellers visited disguised pilgrims swiss traveler visited provided detailed description book travels irregular oval seven inches diameter surface composed dozen smaller stones different sizes shapes joined small quantity cement perfectly looks broken pieces violent blow united difficult determine accurately quality stone worn present surface millions touches kisses received appeared like lava containing small particles whitish yellow substance colour deep reddish brown approaching black surrounded sides border composed substance took close cement pitch gravel similar brownish colour border serves support detached pieces inches breadth rises little surface stone border stone encircled silver band broader sides considerable swelling stone hidden lower border silver nails visiting noted colour appeared black metallic centre stone sunk inches metallic circle round sides reddish brown cement level metal sloping middle stone band massive arch gold silver found stone span fingers broad austrian consul general egypt able inspect fragment stone removed reported pitch black exterior silver grey fine interior tiny bottle green material embedded reportedly white yellow spots face stone officially described white exception face frame black stone black cloth centuries maintained role holy frames wore time constant handling pilgrims periodically replaced worn frames brought istanbul kept sacred relics palace history tradition black stone held reverence preaching islam muhammad time muhammad associated pre islamic shrine sacred sanctuary site pilgrimage visited shrine year perform pilgrimage held idols gods semitic cultures middle_east tradition unusual stones mark places worship phenomenon reflected hebrew bible kissing sacred objects repeatedly described subject writers remark apparent similarity black stone frame external female earlier association fertility rites red stone associated deity south arabian city white stone near city south worship time period associated stone reverence mountains special rock formations distinctive trees marked location sacred world embedded symbol object link heaven earth muhammad according islamic belief muhammad credited setting black stone current place wall story found tells clans renovated following major fire partly destroyed structure temporarily removed facilitate rebuilding work clans agree honour setting black stone place decided wait man come gate ask decision individual happened year old muhammad years asked elders clans bring cloth black stone centre clan leaders held corners cloth carried black stone right spot muhammad set stone place satisfying honour clans stone suffered significant damage course time said struck smashed pieces stone fired catapult siege fragments rejoined silver january stolen carried black stone away base modern according ottoman historian writing leader set mosque intention away failed pilgrims continued spot black stone according historian stone returned years later held black stone ransom forced pay huge sum return wrapped sack thrown friday mosque accompanied note saying command took command brought abduction removal caused damage breaking stone seven pieces said met terrible fate according afflicted sore flesh eaten away worms died terrible death 11th century man allegedly sent attempted smash black stone killed spot having caused slight damage according black stone kissed retired beard suspected responsible target muslims centuries explorer sir doubted attributed act jew greek life furious ritual role plays important role central ritual pilgrims walk seven times direction attempt kiss black stone seven times actions muhammad modern times large crowds practically impossible kiss stone currently acceptable point direction stone seven circuits structure stone best considered simply marker useful keeping count ritual performed black colour deemed symbolize essential spiritual virtue detachment poverty god extinction ego required progress god writing dawn progress described experience black stone pilgrimage end second granted extraordinary moments occur black stone approached corner large crowd suddenly pushed strong man kissed black stone push generated backward current creating opening black stone came swiftly accepted opportunity reciting god god great praise god hands black stone kissed thousands silver lines stone stirred deep inside seconds passed pushed away guard meaning symbolism islamic tradition holds fell adam eve build altar temple earth muslims believe stone originally pure dazzling white turned black sins people touch according tradition touching black stone sins adam altar stone said lost flood forgotten said later found black stone original site adam altar angel revealed ordered son muslim belief ancestor muhammad build new temple stone embedded records second ibn came kiss stone said assembled doubt know stone harm benefit seen messenger muhammad kissing kissed collection recorded ali responded saying stone benefit harm says created human beings adam witness asked creator confirmed wrote confirmation stone pair eyes ears tongue opened mouth order confirmation ordered witness come writing commented practice pre islamic practice stones including black stone arose stones sacred sake relation holy respected indian islamic scholar summed meaning black stone prophet named black stone right hand god purpose fact poses hand conclude pact god pact allegiance submission terminology god king realm metropolis metropolis naturally palace bait home god subject wants testify loyalty royal palace conclude personally pact allegiance right hand invisible god visible symbolically recent years views black stone emerged small minority accepts literally true asserts stone appear day judgement eyes tongue speak evidence favor kissed true devotion speak gossip conversations notes biblical symbol stones numerous sense stone deepest experience experience eternal man moments feels immortal adds sanctuary islamic world black stone pious hope pilgrimage life scientific origins nature black stone debated described variously stone piece natural glass popularly curator austro hungarian imperial collection minerals published comprehensive history black stone favoured origin stone proposed black stone actually judging physical attributes report arab stone contained clearly banding characteristic significant clue nature provided account stone recovery stolen years earlier according chronicler stone identified ability float water account accurate rule black stone lava compatible glass proposed different hypothesis suggested black stone glass fragment impact fragmented fell years ago site desert east notable presence blocks glass fused heat impact iron destroyed impact glass blocks shiny black glass white yellow interior gas filled allow float water scientists aware located near route likely known inhabitants desert wider area certainly known ancient arabic poetry known pillars site fabulous city destroyed fire heavens king estimated age crater accurate period human impact witnessed recent scientific analysis site suggests impact event happened recently thought occurred years hypothesis viewed doubtful suggests words terrestrial rock mistakenly attributed origin
Black Stone