wherever he was, and began touching the Black Stone and the Yemeni Corner, because the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, touched no corners other than these two.

If someone were to ask: What is the wisdom behind his not touching all four corners?

The answer is that the northern and western corners were not upon the foundations laid by Abraham, peace be upon him. For this reason, the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, did not touch them. The House had originally extended further northward, but when Quraysh rebuilt it, they lacked sufficient funds. They therefore decided to exclude the northern portion of the Ka'bah, since they had no way to exclude the southern portion, because the Black Stone was there.

Issues:

The first: If one is unable to touch the Yemeni Corner, he should not gesture towards it, for this has not been narrated.

The second: After mentioning the takbir at the Black Stone, the author, may Allah have mercy on him, did not mention what one should say when touching the Yemeni Corner.

The answer is that he says nothing. Rather, he touches it without saying anything: no takbir or otherwise, because this has not been reported from the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him.

The legal and foundational principle is that whatever had a cause present during the lifetime of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, yet he did not do it, the sunnah is to refrain from doing it. Here, its cause was present: the Yemeni Corner was one which the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, touched, yet he did not say the takbir (1). Accordingly, it is not sunnah to say the takbir when touching it.