is built upon the foundations of Abraham, peace be upon him, therefore, touching it is Sunnah, just like the one containing the Stone. As for kissing it, it has not been authentically reported from the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, so it is not prescribed. As for the two corners that adjoin the Stone, touching them is not prescribed according to the opinion of the majority of scholars. It has been narrated from Mu'awiyah, Jabir, Ibn al-Zubayr, al-Hasan, al-Husayn, Anas, and 'Urwah that they used to touch them. Mu'awiyah said: "Nothing of the House is abandoned." Our position is the statement of Ibn 'Umar: "The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, would not touch anything except the Black Stone and the Yemeni Corner." He also said: "I do not think—meaning the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him—left touching the two corners that adjoin the Stone, except that the House was not completed on the foundations of Abraham, and people did not circumambulate behind the Hijr except for that reason." It is narrated from Ibn 'Abbas that Mu'awiyah performed Tawaf and began touching all the corners. Ibn 'Abbas said to him: "Why do you touch these two corners when the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, did not touch them?" Mu'awiyah replied: "Nothing of the House is abandoned." Ibn 'Abbas said: "Indeed, there is for you in the Messenger of Allah an excellent example" (Surah al-Ahzab, 21). Mu'awiyah said: "You have spoken the truth." This is because they were not completed on the foundations of Abraham; therefore, touching them was not prescribed, just like the wall that adjoins the Hijr.
Section: He touches the two corners, the Black and the Yemeni, in every circumambulation (Tawaf), because Ibn 'Umar said: "The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, would not neglect to touch the Yemeni Corner and the Black Stone in every circumambulation of his." Nafi' said: "Ibn 'Umar used to do that." Narrated by Abu Dawud. If he is unable to kiss the Stone, he touches it and kisses his hand. Among those who viewed kissing the hand upon touching it are Ibn 'Umar, Jabir, Abu Hurayrah, Abu Sa'id, Ibn 'Abbas, Sa'id ibn Jubayr, and 'Ata'.
(7) Surah al-Ahzab, 21. (8) In: Chapter on touching the corners, from the Book of Rituals (Manasik). Sunan Abi Dawud 1/433, 434. It was also extracted by Muslim, in: Chapter on the recommendation of touching the two corners..., from the Book of Hajj. Sahih Muslim 2/924; and al-Nasa'i, in: Chapter on touching the two corners..., from the Book of Rituals. Al-Mujtaba 5/184; and Imam Ahmad, in: al-Musnad 2/115.
