Who Will Place the Black Stone?

Finally, they all gathered in the House of Allah.

He was one of the most noble people of Quraysh. He was very famous for providing travelers with provisions, food, and other necessities for their journeys. Whenever he traveled, he himself would arrange the food and drink for his companions.

At that time, in order to end this serious dispute, he proposed a solution.

He said to everyone:

“O people of Quraysh! In order to end your dispute, do this: let the person who enters first through the gate of Safa in the Haram make the decision between you. Whatever decision he makes among you, all of you should accept it.”

Everyone accepted this proposal.

Today, this gate is called Bab al-Salam. It is located opposite the area between Rukn al-Yamani and Rukn al-Aswad.

By the will and power of Allah, the first person to enter through that gate was the Noble Prophet ﷺ.

As soon as the Quraysh saw you ﷺ, they called out:

“This is Al-Amin! This is Muhammad! We are satisfied with him.”

The reason they said this was that the Quraysh used to have their disputes settled by you ﷺ. You ﷺ never supported anyone unjustly, nor did you oppose anyone without reason.

Then they told you ﷺ the details of their dispute.

After listening to the entire matter, you ﷺ said:

“Bring a cloth.”

They brought a cloth.

You ﷺ spread it out and, with your blessed hands, lifted the Black Stone and placed it on the cloth.

After this, you ﷺ said:

“Let the people of every tribe hold one corner of the cloth, and then lift it together.”

They did exactly that.

While carrying the cloth, they reached the place where the Black Stone was to be placed.

After that, the Noble Prophet ﷺ wanted to lift the Black Stone and place it in its position.

But at exactly that moment, a man from Najd stepped forward and said in a loud voice:

“It is a great wonder that you people have made a young man your leader and have begun honoring him. Remember, this man will divide everyone into groups. He will tear you apart.”

It was almost as though his words would cause another dispute among the people.

But then they themselves realized that the decision made by the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was not one that would create conflict; rather, it was a decision that would end the conflict.

Therefore, the Noble Prophet ﷺ placed the Black Stone in its proper position with his blessed hands.

Historians have written that this man from Najd was actually Iblis, who had appeared in human form on that occasion.

When the construction of the Kaaba was completed, the Quraysh once again placed their idols inside it.

The construction of the Kaaba carried out by Quraysh was the fourth construction.

The Kaaba had first been built by the angels.

Some Companions have stated that before Allah Almighty created the heavens and the earth, the Throne of Allah was upon the water.

When the Throne moved because it was upon the water, this statement was written upon it:

لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُوْلُ اللّٰه

“There is no deity except Allah; Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.”

After this statement was written, the Throne became still.

Then, when Allah Almighty intended to create the heavens and the earth, He sent wind over the water.

Waves began to rise in the water, and vapors began to rise.

Allah Almighty created the heaven from these vapors, that is, steam.

Then Allah Almighty removed the water from the place of the Kaaba.

The place became dry.

Thus, this place of the House of Allah became the origin and center of the entire earth.

This dry land continued expanding until it became seven continents.

When the earth appeared, mountains were established upon it.

The first mountain on earth was Mount Abu Qubays.

Then Allah Almighty commanded the angels:

“Build a House on the earth in My name so that the children of Adam may seek My protection through this House.

Let human beings perform Tawaf around this House just as you have performed Tawaf around My Throne, so that I may become pleased with them.”

The angels obeyed the command.

Then Adam عليه السلام began the construction of the Kaaba.

After that, Ibrahim عليه السلام constructed the Kaaba.

Thus, the construction carried out by the Quraysh was its fourth construction.

When the blessed age of the Noble Prophet ﷺ approached forty years, the signs of revelation began to appear.

First of all, you ﷺ began to see true dreams.

Whatever dream you ﷺ saw would come true in reality.

Allah Almighty began the series of true dreams so that you ﷺ would not become frightened by the sudden arrival of an angel.

During those days, you ﷺ once said to Sayyidah Khadijah رضي الله عنها:

“When I go away and sit in solitude, I hear a voice… someone says, ‘O Muhammad… O Muhammad…’”

On one occasion, you ﷺ said:

“Indeed, I see a light. This light appears to me while I am awake. I fear that something might happen as a result of it.”

On another occasion, you ﷺ also said:

“By Allah! I have never hated anything as much as I hate these idols.”

In order to prepare you ﷺ mentally for revelation, Allah Almighty had made the angel Israfil your companion.

You ﷺ could feel his presence, but you could not see him.

In this way, you ﷺ continued to receive glad tidings of Prophethood and were gradually prepared for revelation.

Allah Almighty placed in your ﷺ heart a love for solitude.

Therefore, you ﷺ began to love being alone.

You ﷺ would go to the Cave of Hira and spend time there.

Once, a voice was heard from the mountain saying:

“Come toward me, O Messenger of Allah.”

You ﷺ would continuously spend several nights in this cave and worship Allah.

Sometimes you ﷺ would remain there for three nights, sometimes for seven nights, and sometimes you ﷺ would spend an entire month there.

When the food you ﷺ had taken with you was finished, you ﷺ would return home.

This food was generally olive oil and dry bread.

Sometimes there was also meat with the food.

During your ﷺ stay in the Cave of Hira, some people would pass by, and among them would be some poor and needy people. You ﷺ would feed them.

As for how exactly you ﷺ worshipped Allah in the Cave of Hira, there is no clear explanation of it in the narrations.

The scholars have certainly expressed their own opinions about it.

One view is that you ﷺ would contemplate and reflect upon the reality of the universe, and such reflection could only be done by staying away from people.

Then, finally, the night arrived when Allah Almighty granted you ﷺ Prophethood and Messengership.

Through your ﷺ Prophethood, He bestowed a great favor upon His servants.

It was the month of Rabi al-Awwal, and the date was the seventeenth.

Some scholars have written that it was the month of Ramadan, because the revelation of the Qur’an began in Ramadan.

The eighteenth and the twenty-third dates have also been mentioned in narrations.

This was the first occasion when Jibril عليه السلام came to you ﷺ with revelation.

Before this, he had not come to you ﷺ.

The morning on which Jibril عليه السلام brought revelation was Monday morning.

And Monday morning was also the day on which you ﷺ had entered this world.

You ﷺ used to say:

“Fast on Monday, because I was born on Monday, and I was also granted Prophethood on Monday.”

In any case, there are different narrations concerning this matter.

However, it is certain that at that time you ﷺ were in your fortieth year.

You ﷺ were asleep at that time when Jibril عليه السلام came to you ﷺ.

In his hand was a piece of silk cloth, and inside that cloth was a book.