Reason #44: The Smashing of the Blackstone! 

101 Reasons Why We Left Islam – Chapter 4: Islamic History – Reason 44

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Before you start reading this, we need you to take a moment to examine the picture. The before is a drawing of the Black Stone (Al-Ḥajar al-Aswad) being transferred during renovation. The drawing is believed to be from the 8th century. The image on the right shows its current status. It went from being the size of a basketball to a few fragments. Why is this significant?  

The Black Stone holds huge significance in Islam as a revered relic embedded in Mecca’s eastern corner of the Kaaba. Pilgrims seek to touch or kiss it during the Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages, copying the Prophet Muhammad’s actions as mentioned in the authentic Hadith. https://sunnah.com/ahmad:176  

  • It was narrated that ‘Abis bin Rabee’ah said: I saw ‘Umar kissing the Black Stone and saying; I am kissing you and I know that you are just a stone; if I had not seen the Messenger of Allah ﷺ kissing you, I would not have kissed you. (Graded: Sahih / Authentic) 
  • Islamic literature suggests that the Black Stone descended from Paradise, originally radiant white, and turned black due to absorbing the sins of humanity. This belief is supported by a narration from Ibn Abbas, wherein the Prophet Muhammad said: “The Black Stone is from Paradise.” https://sunnah.com/nasai:2935 (Graded: Hasan / Good) 

Another narration by Ibn Abbas quotes the Prophet Muhammad saying about the Black Stone:  

  • “By Allah! Allah will raise it on the Day of Resurrection with two eyes by which it sees and a tongue that it speaks with, testifying to whoever touched it in truth.”  https://sunnah.com/tirmidhi/9 (Graded: Sahih / Authentic) 

During this raid, the Qarmatians (see Reason 43) looted the Kaaba and removed the Black Stone from its place. They carried it back to their stronghold in al-Ahsa (modern-day eastern Saudi Arabia). They mocked the sacredness of Mecca and ridiculed the idea of pilgrimage, believing their sect’s interpretation of Islam rendered the Kaaba obsolete. 

One of the infamous statements attributed to Abu Tahir al-Jannabi during the attack was: 
“I am by God, and by God I am … He creates creation, and I destroy them.” 

For over 22 years, the Black Stone remained in Qarmatian possession, as they used it as leverage against the Abbasids. The Abbasid Caliphate and various rulers attempted negotiations, but the Qarmatians refused to return the stone. 

The exact circumstances of how the Black Stone was returned in 951 CE are not clear. However, historical accounts suggest that after mounting pressure—both political and possibly financial—the Qarmatians relented and agreed to return the stone. 

According to some sources, the stone was sent back in a humiliating manner, wrapped in a sack and thrown into the Grand Mosque of Kufa in Iraq. It was accompanied by a note that allegedly stated: 

“By command, we took it, and by command, we have brought it back.” 

It was then transported back to Mecca and reinstated in the Kaaba. However, the years in Qarmatian possession had left it damaged.  

Upon its return, the Black Stone was found to have been broken into several fragments, most likely done as intentional damage or due to mishandling. Several pieces were found to be missing.  

Currently, the Black Stone is composed of multiple smaller fragments embedded within the silver casing. Over time, the stone has also suffered further damage due to wear from pilgrims who touch and kiss it as part of the Tawaf ritual during Hajj and Umrah. 

The Prophet mocked the pagans of Mecca when he defaced and pulled their statues down saying “Where are these useless gods you worship? Why they are not here to defend their statues?” Polytheists and pagans were not stupid. They did not see stones as their gods but as the image of their god that they cherished. The same way you see a picture of your parents’ wedding, or dead grandparent, you cherish that image, you do not worship it! The Prophet’s actions angered the pagans who coexisted with other faiths, including many tribes and people of the book (Christianity and Judaism). Pagans of Mecca, when they did get angry with the Prophet, it was because he was the one who would not respect their faith and not the other way around. 
 
The question that any rational person would ask here is, where was Allah to defend his house? This is not a test we set; this is the test that Prophet set!  Or were we also worshipping a useless god too? In those 22 years when the cornerstone of the house of Allah was stolen, what was Allah doing? And look closely again at that picture of before and after. This is what we were left with: a holy rock from heaven. 
 
Read further here: 

  • Glassé, C. (2001) New Encyclopedia of Islam. Rowman Altamira, p. 245. ISBN 0-7591-0190-6. 
  • St. Martin’s College (2007) ‘Qarmatiyyah’. Overview of World Religions. Archived from the original on 28 April 2007. 
  • Encyclopædia Britannica (2012) ‘Black Stone of Mecca (Islam)’. Retrieved 11 May 2012