There are many stories as to what exactly the black stone is. Some say that when Hagar was wandering the desert in search of water, with her son Ismail, she prayed to Allah for water. Allah sent a meteor to earth which, upon impact, created the Zamzam Well which proved to be her son's salvation. Another legend surrounding the black stone is that it was given to Adam as a white stone on his fall from paradise. By absorbing the sins of those who kiss it, the stone has turned black over the years. The official government position on the stone is that it is the only remaining piece of the original Kaba constructed by Abraham and his son Ismail. Whatever the origin, the Black Stone is located at the southeast corner of the Kaba in the Holy Mosque, where pilgrims attempt to kiss it, or at least touch it as part of their pilgrimage. Attempts to determine what type of stone it is have been thwarted by the wear it has accumulated over the years. This ambiguity has not managed to hinder the importance of the stone within Islam.