… Continued

D. The fourth opinion is that it is permissible to embrace every part of the Ka’bah. This opinion, though not well-known, is supported by the authentic Sunnah and it indicates that the actions of the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, were not with the intention of specifying a certain place, but it was according to what was easy for them or what was known among them.

• Usaamah ibn Zayd, may Allah be pleased with them both, said, “I entered Al-Masjid Al-Haraam with the Messenger of Allah and he sat down, praised Allah The Almighty, performed Takbeer and Tahleel then stood up and went to the part of the Ka’bah facing him. He put his chest, cheeks and hands against it then he performed Tahleel, Takbeer and invoked Allah. After this, he did the same at all the corners then went out and faced the Qiblah while he was standing at the door and said: 'This is the Qiblah; this is the Qiblah.' He said this twice or thrice.”
  
• It was narrated on the authority of Usaamah ibn Zayd, may Allah be pleased with him, that he entered the Ka’bah along with the Messenger of Allah and he (the Messenger of Allah) ordered Bilaal, may Allah be pleased with him, to close the door behind them. At that time, the Ka'bah was built on six pillars, arranged in two rows. The Prophet went to the two pillars next to the door of the Ka'bah he sat and praised Allah The Almighty, invoked Him and asked Him for forgiveness, then he got up and went to the back of the Ka'bah, placed his face and body against it, praised Allah The Almighty, invoked Him and asked Him for forgiveness. After this, he went to each corner of the Ka'bah, uttered Takbeer, Tahleel, Tasbeeh, praised Allah and asked Him for forgiveness. Then he went outside and prayed two Rak‘ahs (units of prayer) facing the front of the Ka'bah. Then, he left and said: 'This is the Qiblah. This is the Qiblah.'” [Ahmad and An-Nasaa’i; Ibn Khuzaymah: Saheeh]

  
  Ash-Shawkaani said, “Saying that the Prophet did the same at all the corners of the Ka'bah indicates the permissibility of placing one's chest and cheeks against any of the corners while saying Tahleel and Tasbeeh as well as invoking Allah.” [Nayl Al-Awtaar]

Although the Prophet did this inside the Ka'bah, there is apparently no difference between doing this inside or outside it. Perhaps this is the reason for what the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, did. Allah knows best.

3. Supplications are answered at Al-Multazam

Shaykh Al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah said, “Supplications are answered during rainfall, when armies meet on the battlefield, during the Athaan and Iqaamah, after obligatory prayers, when a person supplicates while prostrating, the supplication of someone who is fasting, the supplication of the traveler and the oppressed, and so forth. These times of answered supplications were mentioned in Saheeh Hadeeths. Moreover, there are places where supplication is answered such as the places of Hajj rites like ‘Arafah, Muzdalifah, Mina, Al-Multazam and so forth. Supplication is likely to be answered at mosques in general and especially the three (Sacred) mosques where prayers and supplications are better than in any other mosques.” [Majmoo’ Al-Fataawa]

He also said, "If someone wanted to stand by Al-Multazam, between the Black Stone and the door of the Ka'bah, place his chest, face, arms and palms against it, and invoke Allah The Almighty, he may do so. It is permissible to do so before performing the Farewell Tawaaf as this can be performed during the Farewell Tawaaf or at any other time. The Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, used to do this upon entering Makkah. One may say the supplication that was said by Ibn ‘Abbaas, may Allah be pleased with him, ‘O Allah! I am your slave, son of your slave, son of your maid slave. You enabled me to mount what You subjected to my service of Your creation. You protected me in this land of Yours, until You, by Your grace, brought me to Your House. You helped me perform the rites of Hajj. O Allah! If You are pleased with me, increase Your pleasure with me. Otherwise, grant me Your pleasure before I depart from Your House. O Allah, now is the time for me to depart, by Your leave, without changing (my attitude) toward You and Your House, nor turning away from You or Your House. O Allah, grant me health in my body, infallibility in my religion, bless my return, and help me to obey You as long as I live, and combine for me the good of this world and the Hereafter. You are over all things competent.’

If one stood by the door and invoked Allah without embracing the Ka'bah, this would be alright.” [Majmoo‘ Al-Fataawa]

To be continued …