AlAswad

Al-Aswad is an Arabic term meaning “the black.” It functions as a nisba or epithet in personal names and has been used in reference to various historical figures, places, and objects. In a modern context it may appear in different transliterations as al-Aswad, al-Azwad, or al-Aswad.

The Black Stone, al-Hajar al-Aswad, is a sacred object set into the eastern corner of the Kaaba in Mecca. Muslims regard it as a relic that originated from heaven and a touchstone of faith during the ritual of tawaf, when pilgrims seek to touch or kiss it. Over time the stone has suffered damage and has been re-set, and in the 10th century it was famously stolen by the Qarmatians and later recovered. Today the stone remains a ceremonial element of the Kaaba and is venerated by Muslims, though it is not worshiped.

Al-Aswad al-Ansi refers to a Yemeni religious figure who, in the early Islamic period, proclaimed prophethood and led a revolt during the Ridda Wars following the death of the Prophet Muhammad. His uprising was suppressed by the early Muslim state under the caliphate of Abu Bakr, and he was killed as the revolt was brought to heel. The episode is cited in historical sources as part of the broader consolidation of the Muslim community after Muhammad’s death.

In addition to these uses, al-Aswad appears as a component in various Arabic names and descriptors, reflecting the broad semantic meaning of the term.