Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Salaam Alaikum,

Could you please inform me whether the following Ahadith that I came across regarding Hijr Al Aswat are authentic or not? I came across these in Fazail - E - Amaal under the topic Fazail - E - Haj, however, no reference is given.

1.  Rasulullah (PBHU) said : Whoever places his hands on the black stone, is like him who actually shook hands with Allah; and whoever shakes the hand of Allah shall in every way remain safe from all things". (Page 65)
2. Tawaaf commences at the Hajarul Aswad - the black stone - which a Haaji is required to kiss or touch with his hand. Rasulullah (PBHU) called it " The right hand of Allah" . (Page 56)

Could you also inform me whether Allah (SWT) has a form or shape, or whether He (SWT) has hands and feet etc.

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Does Allah have hands,feet,eyes,shape ?

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His  forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad(saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Your Question: Could you also inform me whether Allah (SWT) has a form or shape, or whether He (SWT) has hands and feet etc.

Allah Subhanah Alone Knows what and whether He has a form or shape, or what is the exact form or shape or size of his hands and feet, eyes and ears, etc.?

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 39 Surah Zumar verse 67: No just estimate have they made of Allah such as is due to Him: on the Day of Judgement the whole of the earth will be but His handful, and the heavens will be rolled up in His Right Hand: Glory to Him! High is He above the Partners they attribute to Him!

Although Allah Subhanah declares many times in the Holy Quran that He Sees everything, and He Hears everything, and mentions His Right Hand, etc.; the exact nature of these is absolutely beyond human comprehension! For the believers, who truly believe in Allah Subhanah and the Last Day, it should suffice to believe in exactly what is declared by Allah and His Messenger (saws), and believe Allah Subhanah Sees as suits His Majesty and Might, Hears as suits His Magnificience and Power, and His Hands suit His Incomparable Glory and Perfection!

Allah forbid, we should add, subtract, or ascribe from ourselves any form, shape, physical organs, or compare the Incomparable Lord to anything in existence!

Allah says describing Himself in the Holy Quran Chapter 42 Surah Ash-Shura verse 11: There is Absolutely nothing like Him (Allah) in the whole Universe!!! He is the All-Hearing, The All-Seeing!! To Him Alone belong the keys of the treasures of the heavens and the earth!!

Your Question: Could you please inform me whether the following Ahadith that I came across regarding Hijr Al Aswat are authentic or not?

The honest truth is that I have not come across any hadiths in the authentic books of ahaadiths which state as the hadiths quoted by you from the book, Fazail-e-Aamal.

However, we did find a mention of similar theme in the book, ‘Fiqh-us-Sunnah’ in Chapter 5.74b which stated (and I quote):

In some ahadith which say that "the Black Stone is Allah's right hand on earth," we do find, however, a plausible rationale and justification for this statement. In other words whosoever touches the Black Stone he pledges allegiance to Allah, as it were, by giving his hand into the hand of Allah, just as some followers do pledge their fealty to their kings and masters, by kissing and shaking hands with them.

Al-Muhallib said: "The hadith of 'Umar refutes the assertions of those who say that 'The Black Stone is Allah's right hand on earth wherewith He shakes the hands of His slaves."' God forbid that we should ascribe any physical organs to Allah. The commandment to kiss the Black Stone is meant to test and to demonstrate palpably as to who obeys and submits. It may be compared with the command to Iblis to bow to Adam.

And Allah Alone Knows Best!

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your Brother in Islam,

Burhan