T h e B l a c k S t o n e 45 Man: Abu Taher, the Qaramatian, has arrived. Abu Taher, the Qaramatian, has arrived. The Aarda band enters and dances while Abu Taher walks in carrying a basket in his hands. Abu Taher: Quiet! Quiet! The dancing and singing stop. Abu Taher: Sit! Sit. I went for Hajj; but I did not like it. So, I went out with my men on the day of Tarwiyah,[1] attacked the pilgrims and took their properties. We killed many of them, too. I then ordered the dead bodies to be thrown into the Well of Zamzam. I also ordered the Kaabah covers be removed and I tore them to pieces in front of my followers. Then, I removed the Black Stone. We took it out by force. The surviving pilgrims were screaming ‘No, no’… and I kept saying ‘Where are the Ababil swarms 1- Yawm al-Tarwiyah: This day falls on the 8th of Dhu-Hijjah, when the multitudes of pilgrims head for Mina for one of the major Hajj rituals.
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