Question # 482: According to the two links below…. [one from islamqa-info.cdn.ampproject.org] and other from [muftiwp.gov.my] …the attribution of the belief that the black stone is the “Right Hand” of Allah SWT on earth to the Prophet SAW is considered unreliable. But the Hadith below seems to be a supporting evidence: O Abu Muhammad! What have you heard about this Black Corner? ‘Ata’ said: Abu Hurairah told me that he heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: “Whoever faces it is facing the Hand of the Most Merciful.’” (Sunan ibn Majah Book 25, Hadith 2957) It is said that if a report is attested by multiple links it can be accepted. Is the part regarding the Hand of Allah reliably attributed to the Prophet SAW? Did Abu Huraira RA really attribute these words to the Prophet SAW? Isn’t believing in the physical and visible representation of the Divine Essence idolatrous? How is this any different from the paganistic idea of aniconism? Please clarify. Jazak Allahu Khayran, Note: the second link is in Malay, it can be translated to English. Nonetheless, the fatwa confirms that the attribution of said belief to the Prophet SAW is unreliable.

bismi-llahi r-raḥmani r-raḥīm,

Assalamu ‘laikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh,

All praise and thanks are due to Allah (سبحانه و تعالى), and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger (صلى الله عليه و سلم).

Dear questioner,

First of all, we implore Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) to help us serve His cause and render our work for His sake.

Shorter Answer: Although the hadith referred to in the question from Sunan Ibn Majah was narrated by Abu Hurayrah (رضي الله عنه), the transmitter was Humaid bin Abu Sawiyyah. Imam adh-Dhahabi said: the raawi (transmitter) is majhul (unknown). Ibn ‘Adi said in “al-Kamil fi Dhuafa’ al-Rijal” its isnaad is da’eef. Also, it says hadith is ghair mahfuz [anomalous hadith, which is related by less accurate or less retentive transmitter].

A similar weak narration “The Black Stone is Allah’s right hand on earth with which He shakes the hands of His slaves” has been classed as mawdu’ (fabricated) in “Tareekh Baghdad” by Al-Khatib al-Baghdadi; “Al-Ilal Al-Mutanahiya fil Ahadith AlWahiya” by Ibn al-Jawzi, and “Silsalat al-Hadith ad-Da’eefah” by Al-Albani.

The scholars unanimously agree that it is not permissible to act according to the weak traditions in the field of Islamic belief [‘aqeedah]. Allah’s sifah dhatiyyah (Personal Attribute) having hands, eyes, face, and fingers falls under the broad category of Tawhid al-Asma wal-Sifat (Maintaining the Unity of Allah’s Names and Attributes), which is a matter of ‘aqeedah and therefore, da’eef (weak) ahadith cannot be relied upon.

Long Answer: The complete hadith referred to in the question appearing in Sunan Ibn Majah (Vol. 4, Book 25, Hadith 2957) is as follows:

Humaid bin Abu Sawiyyah said: “I heard Ibn Hisham asking ‘Ata’ bin Abu Rabah about the Yemenite Corner, when he was performing Tawaf around the House. ‘Ata’ said: Abu Hurairah told me that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said: “Seventy angels have been appointed over it. Whoever says: Allahumma inni as’alukal-‘afwa wal-‘afiyah fid-dunya wal-akhirah; Rabbana atina fid-dunya hasanah, wa fil-akhirati hasanah, wa qina ‘adhaban-Nar (O Allah, I ask You for pardon and well-being in this world and in the Hereafter. Our Lord, give us good in this world and good in the Hereafter and protect us from the torment of the Fire), they say: Ameen.” When he reached the Black Corner (where the Black Stone is), he said: O Abu Muhammad! What have you heard about this Black Corner? ‘Ata’ said: Abu Hurairah told me that he heard the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه و سلم) say: “Whoever faces it is facing the Hand of the Most Merciful.’” Ibn Hisham said to him: O Abu Muhammad, what about Tawaf? ‘Ata’ said: Abu Hurairah told me that he heard the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) say: “Whoever performs Tawaf around the House seven times and does not say anything except: Subhan Allah wal-hamdu lillah, wa la ilaha illallah wa Allahu Akbar, wa la hawla wa la quwwata illa billah (Glory is to Allah, praise is to Allah, none has the right to be worshipping but Allah, and there is no power nor strength except with Allah), ten bad deeds will be erased from him, ten merits will be recorded for him, and he will be raised ten degrees in status. Whoever performs Tawaf and talks when he is in that situation, is wading in mercy like one who wades in water.”

The above hadith, which was narrated by Abu Hurayrah (رضي الله عنه), but transmitted was Humaid bin Abu Sawiyyah, has been graded da’eef (weak). Ibn ‘Adi said in “al-Kamil fi Dhuafa’ al-Rijal” [Complete Biography of Weak Narrators] (2/695) the isnaad (chain) is da’eef. Also, it says hadith is ghair mahfuz [anomalous hadith, which is related by less accurate or less retentive transmitter]. Imam adh-Dhahabi said : the raawi (transmitter) is majhul (Shaikh Zubair ‘Ali Zaee’) [majhul refers to ‘unknown’; when someone is referred to by only one scholar and is not known in the literary circles, s/he is classified as majhul]

A similar weak narration “The Black Stone is Allah’s right hand on earth with which He shakes the hands of His slaves” has been classed as mawdu’ (fabricated) in “Tareekh Baghdad” by Al-Khatib al-Baghdadi (6/328); “Al-Ilal Al-Mutanahiya fil Ahadith AlWahiya (Complete Defects of Inauthentic Hadiths)” by Ibn al-Jawzi (2/944), and “Silsalat al-Hadith ad-Da’eefah” by Al-Albani (223)

The scholars unanimously agree that it is not permissible to act according to the weak traditions in the field of Islamic belief [‘aqeedah]. The majority of the Muslim scholars maintain that it is similarly impermissible to rely on weak narrations to prove any legal rulings [akham]. In Islamic law, reliance is only on sound [sahih] and reliable [hasan] traditions. Allah’s sifah dhatiyyah (Personal Attribute or Attribute of Essence) having hands, eyes, face, and fingers falls under the broad category of Tawhid al-Asma wal-Sifat (Maintaining the Unity of Allah’s Names and Attributes), which is a matter of ‘aqeedah and therefore, da’eef (weak) ahadith cannot be relied upon.

(The major part of the above answer is based on the following sources:

  • Hadith – Terminology and Classification A Handbook by Muhammad S. ar-Rahawan
  • 125 Weak and Fabricated Hadeeth compiled by Mohammed Omar Shah)

Allahu A’lam (Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) knows best) and all Perfections belong to Allah, and all mistakes belong to me alone. May Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) forgive me, Ameen.

Wassalaam