and sacrificial rites, as well as every other devotion that may rightly be directed to Allah alone. Allah has not designated any particular place for prayer other than mosques—not a cemetery, shrine, cave, prophet’s station, or anything else. Nor has He designated any particular place other than mosques for remembrance and supplication, apart from the sacred sites of Hajj—not the grave of a prophet or righteous person, a cave, or anything else.

Nothing on earth is to be kissed as an act of worship to Allah except the Black Stone, and nothing is to be wiped except it and the Yemeni Corner. The two Syrian corners are not touched, even though they are part of the House—so what of anything else?

Ibn Abbās and Muʿāwiya once circumambulated the House together, and Muʿāwiya began touching all four corners. Ibn Abbās, may Allah be pleased with him, said:

“The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, touched only the two Yemeni corners.”

Muʿāwiya replied:

“No part of the House should be forsaken.”

Ibn Abbās, may Allah be pleased with him, then said:

“Indeed, in the Messenger of Allah you have an excellent example.”

Muʿāwiya replied, “You are right.” (1) He then adopted Ibn Abbās’s view.

Acts of worship are founded upon two principles. The first is that none but Allah alone may be worshipped. We worship nothing besides Him—neither an angel, a prophet, a righteous person, nor anything else among created beings. The second is that we worship Him in the manner He commanded us through His Messenger; we do not worship Him through innovations that Allah and His Messenger have not prescribed.

Worship entails the utmost love and the utmost submission. Whoever loves any created being as he loves the Creator has associated a partner with Allah. Allah Most High says:

“Yet there are people who take others besides Allah as equals, loving them as they love Allah. But those who believe have greater love for Allah.”