The Black Stone is an object of reverence which Allah, Exalted be He, brought down from Paradise. The Prophet ﷺused to kiss it, hence, following his guidance, we also kiss it, touch it, and point towards it, although it is a stone that does not avert harm or bring forth benefit. In this hadeeth, the Taabi’ee, al-Zubayr ibn ‘Arabee reports that a man asked ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (ra) about the touching and kissing of the Black Stone. Ibn ‘Umar (ra) informed him that he saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺtouching and kissing the Black Stone. The man however asked: “What if I am overcrowded and people crowd around me such that I am unable to reach the Black Stone or I am overpowered to reach it due to any other reason, hence I cannot reach it and kiss it?” Ibn ‘Umar (ra) counselled him saying, “May you leave ‘what ifs’ in Yemen!” i.e., give up this excuse and follow the Sunnah by touching and kissing the Black Stone. It is as if Ibn ‘Umar (ra) comprehended from his excessive questioning that he wants to gradually give it up, which eventually leads to failing to respect and venerate it as demanded by the religion. Ibn ‘Umar (ra) held the opinion that touching and kissing the Black Stone should never be forgone, even during excessive overcrowding; as a form of following the Prophet ﷺ. However, it is worth being aware that kissing the Black Stone is among the Sunnah acts for the one who is able to do so without harming people. If one is unable to do so, then he should just place his hand on it, then he should lift it up and kiss it (the hand). If he cannot do that, then he should stand facing towards it and pointing with hands towards it and thereafter pronounce takbeer. From the benefits that can be concluded from this hadeeth is knowing that it is allowed for a scholar to interrupt the questioner when he keeps asking what if questions. The hadeeth also shows that all goodness is in following the Sunnah to the best of one’s abilities. .