MAKKAH – It is a duty he is proud of and is always happy to perform, because this keeps him in the proximity to the House of Allah. First Sgt. Hamad Al-Sharif's duty is to stand guard next to Al-Hajar Al-Aswad, the Black Stone in the Holy Ka'ba, so as to coordinate thousands of pilgrims who want to touch the stone. Al-Sharif, who has been guarding the Black Stone for 30 years, does not want to leave his job. He says the emotions of the pilgrims who touched and kissed the stone are deeply moving. The most precious thing, he said, was “a heartfelt prayer from a pilgrim I helped touch the Black Stone.” Head of the Grand Mosque Security Forces Major Gen. Yahya Al-Zahrani said the Black Stone guard's duty is to coordinate those who want to touch or kiss the stone. The guard should prevent anyone who has touched the stone from coming back, to give as many pilgrims as possible the opportunity to get close to it. There are a number of guards who take shifts guarding the Black Stone, Al-Zahrani said.
