the tawaf, he performs two rak'ahs behind the Station, following the practice of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. When he proceeds to the Station, he should recite Allah’s words: “And take the Station of Abraham as a place of prayer.” [al-Baqarah 2:125], as the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, recited it (1), so that he may appreciate a tremendous benefit: namely, that his performance of this act of worship is in compliance with Allah’s command, thereby realizing repentance and turning to Allah, and humility before His commands.

His statement, “behind the Station,” means the Station of Abraham, which is well known. It was called a station because Abraham stood upon it when the construction of the Ka'bah became too high, so that he could build upon it from above.

It has been said that the imprint of his feet was clearly visible in this stone, but that, over the passage of many years and because people used to rub themselves against it so frequently before Islam, the footprints disappeared. Others have said that the imprint did not disappear, for Abu Talib says in his well-known poem rhyming in lam:

“The place where Abraham stood upon the rock remains soft beneath his bare, unshod feet.”

Historians differed over the location of this Station during the time of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him: was it adjoining the Ka'bah, or was it in its present location?

Some of them held that it was adjoining the Ka'bah, and that Umar ibn al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, moved it forward to this location in order to make more room for those performing tawaf. Others held that this is its original location. I have nothing that enables me to decide between the two views.