Parts of the Kaaba Cover Stone in Istanbul

During the Ottoman Empire period, 5 pieces of the Hajar al-Aswad stone, considered sacred in the Islamic religion, believed to have been sent down from heaven and the main part of which is located in the Kaaba, were brought to Istanbul. The largest piece of Hajar al-Aswad in Turkey is in the Kanuni Sultan Süleyman Tomb, and the other 4 pieces are in the Sokullu Mehmet Pasha Mosque. Ebuzer Gümüş, Deputy Director of Istanbul Shrines Museums affiliated with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, said, ‘During the repairs made in the 16th century, the stones were brought to Istanbul as a result of the fall of the 5 pieces. Today, the original Hajar al-Aswad in the Kaaba is the oldest part of the Kaaba. The 5 pieces that fell from it today are the only original Hajar al-Aswad in the world like it,’

Characteristics of the Hajar al-Aswad Stone

The Hajar al-Aswad stone, considered sacred in the Islamic religion, believed to have come from heaven and the main part of which is located in the Kaaba, has 1 piece in the Kanuni Sultan Süleyman Tomb in Fatih, and 4 pieces in the Sokullu Mehmet Pasha Mosque in Kadırga. During the maintenance and repair works carried out in the 16th century in the Kaaba, a eunuch brought the 5 pieces that fell from the Hajar al-Aswad stone to Istanbul. Throughout history, the eunuch who brought the broken pieces to Istanbul was punished because he had the pieces joined together to restore the Hajar al-Aswad stone to its original form.

• The Hajar al-Aswad stone, which holds an important place in the Islamic world, means ‘black stone’ in Arabic and its color is close to dark red.
• Hajar al-Aswad is a stone believed to have been sent down from heaven and placed in the Kaaba by Prophet Abraham and Prophet Ishmael.
• Except for the Kaaba, the pieces of Hajar al-Aswad are only found in Istanbul and are considered a sacred stone for Muslims.

The Hajar al-Aswad stone, with its largest piece in the Kanuni Sultan Süleyman Tomb by Mimar Sinan and other pieces in the Sokullu Mehmet Pasha Mosque, is considered to have spiritual importance for visitors in Istanbul.