Why kiss meteors????

Sign*Reader wrote: Angel wrote: can we get away from israfil and him not kissing the stone now I wouldn't myself be kissing it for health reason   You are injecting yourself into an impossible scenario being a non believer. When you know being a non believer you are not permitted within the precincts of the sanctuary; WHy should you comment or complain beside being facetious? Angel wrote: Unless in you are in the first row, I can't see how you can kiss the stone anyway I thought you were smarter than that! The first row doesn't guarantee that. You don't have the foggiest idea how things work around there!  It takes an effort and patience to get to the first row and then some. Some get to the Hajarulaswad some don't but at least they were part of the effort and that is what counts. But a person gets in front of the Blackstone and says I am not going to kiss or touch it is a greatest arrogant, aimless fool who wasted time, effort and treasure to earn Allah's displeasure.  Israfil has not been there and you can't be there, so where does that leave you, him or others? in the peanut gallery?

Do you think you can lighten up a bit, both israfil and i are not being despectful. It's just a comment, a personal opinion, there is nothing wrong.

I know about hajj okay! I read, i watch documentaries by muslims who have documented, the news, seen a lot of pictures. I know how packed it gets.

But a person gets in front of the Blackstone and says I am not going to kiss or touch it is a greatest arrogant, aimless fool who wasted time, effort and treasure to earn Allah's displeasure.

that is your personal opinion, and an error to say it will displease Allah! and you cannot speak for all, i'm sure some get the spirituality and the tresure that out of it if they choose not to kiss the stone.

As far as I'm concerned there really is no law that states NOT kissing the stone is haram and is a sin. I understand that it is ritual to kiss the stone and that is perfectly fine I just choose not to when I go on Hajj. I prefer to do the other rituals such as the "stoning of Satan" and the drinking at the well of Zamzam. Just because the prophet performed this does this mean that it is exactly law to do so? For instance if the prophet ate dates is it law to do so?

I choose not to kiss the stone because I do not wish to perform any affection to a creation of space, rather, I want to devote myself to the Creator of the universe. I believe as a Muslim what is more essential is the fact that one goes to Hajj and unifies with other Muslims in harmony.

In my personal belief through studying Islam there are certain things that are law in respect to Sunnah and things that are not law although from Sunnah. I believe these are one of those optional things. Like I said spirituality is subjective and relative from person to person. One may find their spiritual euphoria just by getting off the plane in Mecca the other may find it by kissing the stone. I don't think you can post an article to prove you can find God and being in this spiritual dimension with God by kissing the stone.

I just have a big problem with authors especially some Muslims using physical objects to represent God.

Edited by Israfil

 

 I feel that Israfil can do what he likes best. Unless he is fully satisfied, he need not kiss the stone. Many cannot even approach that place. So they just raise their (both) hands from the distance and continue their next circle (circuit). After all, a person does not become a non Muslim by not kissing the black stone.

 Some who can be very near to the stone, they just touch the stone with a hand and then kiss the hand only. They feel satisfied that they have done the necessary ritual. I feel that it is the obedience which is more importance and the alignment with the prophet s.a.w.s. that will bring more pleasure and peace of mind to every one. Distancing, questioning and departing from the way of the prophet s.a.w.s. will not be a good end result.

 

Angel wrote: can we get away from israfil and him not kissing the stone now I wouldn't myself be kissing it for health reason

You are injecting yourself into an impossible scenario being a non believer.

When you know being a non believer you are not permitted within the precincts of the sanctuary; WHy should you comment or complain beside being facetious?

Angel wrote: Unless in you are in the first row, I can't see how you can kiss the stone anyway

I thought you were smarter than that!
The first row doesn't guarantee that. You don't have the foggiest idea how things work around there!
 It takes an effort and patience to get to the first row and then some. Some get to the Hajarulaswad some don't but at least they were part of the effort and that is what counts.
But a person gets in front of the Blackstone and says I am not going to kiss or touch it is a greatest arrogant, aimless fool who wasted time, effort and treasure to earn Allah's displeasure.

 Israfil has not been there and you can't be there, so where does that leave you, him or others? in the peanut gallery?

I think it is necessary to quote here Dr.Ali Sharati's from his book HAJJ for other believers who's faith might benefit.
 I would recommend all to read this book as part of Hajj planning to develop understanding of all the steps involved.

Allegiance and the Black Stone 

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Circumambulation must begin at the point where the BLACK STONE is located. This is where you enter the universe's system. You join the other people and assimilate among them as a drop entering the ocean. This is the way to survival, the way to find your "orbit"! If you do not join the people, you will not be able to pursue the orbit nor approach Almighty Allah. Firstly, with your right hand you must touch or point to the BLACK STONE. Then, immediately, you must be assimilated among the people. What does this stone symbolize? It symbolizes a hand - a right hand! And - whose right hand? The right hand of Allah! 

In the past, individuals and tribes made contracts with the chiefs of other tribes. This was done to assure their maintenance and survival in the desert. The contract was known as an allegiance. How was it actualized? The individual involved had to extend his right hand to shake and hold the right hand of the other in order that he becomes his ally. Automatically, it was understood that his previous allegiances were cancelled. 

At the Black Stone, the moment of selection, you must choose your path, goal, and future. When joining the people, you must shake hands with Allah who is extending His right hand - therefore taking the oath to become Allah's confederate. You will be free from all previous allegiances; no longer will you be an ally of the powers, the hypocrites, the tribal chiefs, the rulers on this earth, the aristocrats of Quraish, the landlords, nor money. You are free! Quran, 48:10 

The hand of Allah is over their hands.  

Touch Allah's hand. He is superior to all who have TIED your hands in previous allegiances! Upon acquiring the status of being free (after shaking Allah's hand and re-asserting your "original promise"' to Him), it is your duty to join the people. Do not stop, continue on. You must find and select your "orbit". Enter the system and move with the others. As you circumambulate and move closer to Kaaba, you feel like a small stream merging into a big river. Carried by a wave, not by your feet, you are detached from the ground. Suddenly, you find yourself floating and carried on by this flood. As you approach the middle, the pressure of the crowd squeezes you so hard that you are endowed with a new life. You are now a part of the people; you are now a man alive and eternal! You move not "by yourself" but "with others". You join them not "diplomatically" but "with love". 

See the Allah of Ibrahim. By relating you to Himself, Allah relates you to others. In such a deep, delicate and beautiful way he relates you to the people by the attracting forces of His love. Although you are here to see Allah, you find yourself so busy with the people. Allah has invited you from far distances to come to His house for a private visit, but now He tells you to join the people. You are not to enter His house, nor to stop and stare at the house. You must continue in your circumambulation, remaining shoulder to shoulder with the people. Kaaba is only the center of the orbit; there fore, if you stop, move your position or turn your head, you are "out" of the orbit! Once again, do not stop and do not go to the right or to the left. Qibla is in front of you; look ahead and continue going ahead. 

Attracted by the forces of the world's sun (Kaaba), you are on your orbit. You have become a part of this universal system. Circumambulating (Tawaf) around Allah, you will soon forget yourself. What prevails is love and attraction; you are only one of the many people who are "attracted"! 

Going around and around, you see no one but "Him". You are a "nothing who feels His existence" and simultaneously an "existence who feels nothing". As you circumambulate, you are like a particle in this circular movement which is an orbit, a motion, a Tawaf and a Hajj! Nevertheless, all of this is symbolic of Allah. Your position is that of "submission" 

By becoming departed from yourself, you have assumed a new form as a "particle" that is gradually melting and disappearing. At its peak love is absolute; you are a devotee in love! If love had to be described in terms of motion, what type of movement would it be? Very simply, it is best expressed by the motions of a butterfly! In summary, it may be said that Kaaba is the center of love while you are the compass rotating around it! 

Hajar was an example for humanity. Allah, the great love and ally of man, ordered her to leave her home with her nursing child. She was told to go to the fearful valley of Mecca where no plant not even thistles, will grow. Out of love for Allah, she Understood and accepted this order. It seems strange - a lonely woman with her lonely child cast into the depth of this valley among such ugly and inactive volcanoes. Without water? Without shelter? Without anyone? But why? All of this because Allah wanted absolute reliance upon Him! This rationale is not comprehendible by our Wisdom nor does it appear logical. Water is necessary for existence, the baby needs milk, a man needs friends, a woman needs supporters and a mother needs help. This is true, yet love can replace all of those needs! One can live with love if the spirit recognizes it. Oh lonely maid, a helpless nursing mother, you and Your child must rely upon Allah. Feeling secure with love, rely upon Him!



Edited by Sign*Reader