<P> The Black Stone plays a central role in the ritual of istilam, when pilgrims kiss the Black Stone, touch it with their hands or raise their hands towards it while repeating the takbir, "God is Greatest". They perform this in the course of walking seven times around the Kaaba in a counterclockwise direction (tawaf), emulating the actions of Muhammad . At the end of each circuit, they perform istilam and may approach the Black Stone to kiss it at the end of tawaf . In modern times, large crowds make it practically impossible for everyone to kiss the stone, so it is currently acceptable to point in the direction of the Stone on each of their seven circuits around the Kaaba . Some even say that the Stone is best considered simply as a marker, useful in keeping count of the ritual circumambulations that one has performed . </P> <P> Writing in Dawn in Madinah: A Pilgrim's Progress, Muzaffar Iqbal described his experience of venerating the Black Stone during a pilgrimage to Mecca: </P> <P> At the end of the second (circumambulation of the Kaaba), I was granted one of those extraordinary moments which sometimes occur around the Black Stone . As I approached the Corner the large crowd was suddenly pushed back by a strong man who had just kissed the Black Stone . This push generated a backward current, creating a momentary opening around the Black Stone as I came to it; I swiftly accepted the opportunity reciting, Bismillahi Allahu akbar wa lillahi - hamd ("In the name of God, God is great, all praise to God"), put my hands on the Black Stone and kissed it . Thousands of silver lines sparkled, the Stone glistened, and something stirred deep inside me . A few seconds passed . Then I was pushed away by the guard . </P> <P> The Black Stone and the Kaaba's opposite corner, al - Rukn al - Yamani, are both often perfumed by the mosque's custodians . This can cause problems for pilgrims in the state of ihram ("consecration"), who are forbidden from using scented products and will require a kaffara (donation) as a penance if they touch either . </P>

What is the significance of the black stone in mecca