During the coronavirus pandemic edition of the hajj that began Wednesday, however, the black stone is off limits to kissing and touching.
The authorities in Saudi Arabia are issuing personal prayer rugs
and bottled water from the holy Zamzam well
instead of letting pilgrims drink from cups at the mosque.
Eventhe pebbles pilgrims hurl at the devil have been sterilized,
all in an effort to prevent a coronavirus outbreak from marring a pilgrimage
which tradition holds stretches back thousands of years.