The Rebuilding of the Kaaba

Quraysh rebuilt the Kaaba after damage, dividing the work among the clans. When the rebuilding reached the point of replacing the Black Stone, the clans disputed the honour of setting it, and the argument grew serious enough to threaten fighting.

They agreed to accept the judgement of the next man to enter the sanctuary, and it was Muhammad. He asked for a cloth, placed the stone on it, and had a representative of each clan take an edge so that all lifted it together. He then set the stone in place himself.

Commentary

The episode is reported in the Seerah literature rather than in the hadith collections, so it is a historical report rather than an authenticated narration. It is worth noting for what it shows about his standing before prophethood: the arbitration worked because the parties already trusted him.

On the sources: A Seerah report without a hadith chain. Widely transmitted, but it should not be cited as an authenticated narration.