Rukn al-Yamani
Rukn al-Yamani (Arabic: الركن اليماني; “The Yemeni Corner”) refers to the southwestern corner of the Kaaba. It is located opposite Hajar al-Aswad. Its name is derived from the fact that it faces Yemen. According to a tradition of the Prophet ﷺ, Rukn al-Yamani, like Hajar al-Aswad, has the capability of absolving sins. It is sunnah to touch the corner, if possible, during Tawaf.
Table Of Content
Corners of the Kaaba
The Kaaba’s four corners are as follows:
- The Black Stone Corner: This marks the starting point of each circuit of Tawaf and is distinguished by the presence of the Hajar al-Aswad (Black Stone).
- The Iraqi Corner: Positioned after passing the Hijr Ismail (Hateem), this is the second corner traversed by pilgrims.
- The Shami Corner: Facing north towards Syria, this is the third corner that pilgrims encounter.
- The Yemeni Corner: Facing south towards Yemen, this corner represents the final stage of the circuit. Pilgrims often seek to touch or kiss it as a blessed act during their Tawaf.
The Yemeni Corner is the second most virtuous corner of the Kaaba after the Black Stone Corner.
Virtues of Rukun Yamani
Abdullah ibn Umar I narrated that he heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ saying:
Indeed, the Corner (Rukn al-Yamani) and the Maqam (Maqam Ibrahim) are two gems from the gems of Paradise. Allah removed their lights, and if their lights had not been removed, they would have illuminated what is between the East and the West.
[Narrated in Jami’ al-Tirmidhi]
Ibn Umar also mentioned that the Prophet ﷺ said:
Touching the Black Stone and the Yemeni Corner indeed erases sins.
[Narrated in Musnad Ahmad]
Additionally, he reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
On the Day of Judgement, the Rukn al-Yamani will appear greater than [a mountain named] Abu Qubais, with two tongues and two lips.
[Narrated in Musnad Ahmad]
Abu Hurayrah I narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
The Yemeni corner has seventy angels assigned to guard it. So whoever says, ‘O Allah! I ask you for pardon and well-being in this world and in the hereafter. O our Lord! Grant us good in this world, good in the hereafter, and save us from the punishment of the Hellfire, the angels say, amin.’
[Narrated in Sunan ibn Majah]
The du’a in this narration is as follows:
رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّار
Allāhumma innī as’aluka l-ʿafwa wa l-ʿāfiyata fi d-dunyā wa l-ākhirah.
Rabbanā ātinā fi d-dunyā ḥasanatan wa fi l-ākhirati ḥasanatan wa qinā ʿadhāba n-nār.
O Allah! I ask you for pardon and well-being in this world and in the hereafter.
O our Lord! Grant us good in this world, good in the hereafter, and save us from the punishment of the Hellfire.
The Prophet ﷺ and Rukun Yamani
When the Prophet ﷺ performed Tawaf, he would touch the Rukn al-Yamani in each circuit.
Abdullah ibn Umar said:
The Apostle of Allah ﷺ did not neglect to touch Rukn al-Yamani and Hajar al-Aswad in each of his circumambulations.
[Narrated in Sunan Abu Dawud]
As the Prophet ﷺ walked between the Rukn al-Yamani and the Hajar al-Aswad, he would recite the following verse from the Quran:
Rabbanā ātinā fi d-dunyā ḥasanatan wa fi l-ākhirati ḥasanatan wa qinā ʿadhāba n-nār.
O our Lord! Grant us good in this world, good in the hereafter, and save us from the punishment of the Hellfire.
[Surah al-Baqarah, 2:201]
It is, therefore, a sunnah to touch the Rukn al-Yamani during Tawaf and recite the dua mentioned above after passing it. If touching the Yemeni Corner isn’t possible, one should proceed with Tawaf as normal.
Historical Incidents
During the Fatimid era, historical records indicate that pieces of the Yemeni Corner were affixed using nails. In 1040 AH (1630 CE), during the rule of Sultan Murad IV, the edge of the stone in the Yemeni Corner broke off. To rectify the damage, molten lead was utilized to fill the gap, and the broken part was reattached.
