The jurists agreed that throwing stones in hajj at the stones is one of the duties of Hajj. This is indicated by the Sunnah and consensus. The method of throwing stones during Hajj is by throwing a pebble in specific places. The obligatory stones for each stone (i.e. the place of throwing) is seven pebbles according to consensus as well.
What is the wisdom behind throwing stones during Hajj?
The wisdom behind stones in hajj is that, firstly, it is in imitation of the Prophet Muhammad – may Allah’s prayers and peace be upon him – who said in his hadith: “Take your rites from me,” as the Prophet – may Allah’s prayers and peace be upon him – stoned during the Farewell Hajj.
And secondly: it is in obedience to his command – may Allah’s prayers and peace be upon him. Upon him, peace and blessings be upon him, in confirmation of the Almighty’s saying: “O you who have believed, obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority.”
Thirdly, in throwing stones in hajj, we remember what happened to our master Ibrahim – upon him and upon our Prophet – the best prayers and the purest peace, and that is that when Allah – the Almighty – commanded him to slaughter his son and he sought to carry out that, Satan objected and whispered to him not to slaughter his son.
So he threw seven pebbles at him, then he set off and was intercepted by another. So he shot him seven times, then he went off and intercepted him a third time, so he threw him. He placed his son on his forehead and ran the knife across his neck, but it did not stop.
Fourthly, throwing stones in hajj is a revival of this ritual and it is considered one of the greatest rituals of Islam and a rebuke to Satan and a humiliation of him. He gets angry when he sees people stoning the place where Allah’s friend Abraham objected, as it is an insult to Satan and a demonstration of his opposition.
How to throw stones
stones in hajj as mentioned by the jurists, is for the pilgrim to be five or more cubits away from the Jamarat in which the pebbles are gathered, then he holds the pebble with the tips of the thumb and forefinger of his right hand, and raises his hand until he sees the whites of his armpits, and throws it and says “Allahu Akbar,” and it is desirable when throwing the Jamarat to place the pebble between his forefinger.
With his right and left hands, he throws them, then he interrupts the Talbiyah with the first pebble with which he throws the Great Jamarat of Aqaba on the Day of Sacrifice, and he busies himself in saying “Allahu Akbar.” On the authority of Al-Fadl bin Abbas, he said: “I was the companion of the Prophet, may Allah’s prayers and peace be upon him, from performing the prayer to Mina, and he continued to recite the Talbiyah until he threw the Jamarat Al-Aqaba.”
As for the Umrah pilgrim, he stops the Talbiyah at the beginning of the circumambulation, because the pilgrim must say “Allahu Akbar” with each pebble. On the authority of Jabir, may Allah be pleased with him, describing the throwing of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah’s prayers and peace be upon him, at Jamarat al-Aqaba, he says: “He stoned it with seven pebbles – he said “Allahu Akbar” with each pebble of them – like the pebbles of Khadhuf.” .
Takbir of stones in hajj
The formula for takbir of stones in hajj is mentioned in the hadith in absolute terms: “He says takbeer with every pebble,” so it is permissible to say takbir in any of its forms, including: “In the name of Allah, and Allah is great, in spite of Satan, and in satisfaction with the Most Merciful. Oh Allah, make it an accepted Hajj, a rewarded effort, and a forgiven sin.”
Among them also: “Allah is great, Allah is great, Allah is great, and praise be to Allah greatly, and Glory be to Allah morning and evening. There is no god but Allah alone with no partner. To Him belongs the dominion and to Him is praise. He gives life and causes death, and He is capable of all things. There is no god but Allah and there is no god but Him. We worship none but Him, being sincere in religion to Him, even if the disbelievers hate it.”
Mistakes when throwing stones
It is proven that the Prophet, may Allah’s prayers and peace be upon him, stones in hajj, which is the highest Jamrat next to Mecca, with seven pebbles, and he sacrificed the Day of Sacrifice. The Prophet used to say “Allahu Akbar” with each pebble, and each pebble was like the stone of a stone or a little higher than a hummus.
The jurists mentioned some of the mistakes that some pilgrims make while throwing stones in hajj, including:
- their belief that it is necessary to take the pebbles from Muzdalifah, so they tire themselves out by picking them up at night and taking them with them during the days of Mina.
- The pilgrims believe that by stoning the pebbles they are stoning devils, and for this reason they give the pebbles the name of devils, saying: We stoned the big or small Satan, or we stoned the father of the devils, by which they mean the Great Jamarat, Jamrat al-Aqaba, and other such expressions that do not befit these sentiments.
Conclusion
Throwing the stones in hajj is one of the duties of Hajj, and whoever abandons it is obligated to pay one ransom. Stoning the entire stone only requires one ransom. So if he abandons the throwing of all of it or abandons some of it, if he neglects to stone one of the three Jamarat, or neglects to stone an entire day for which there is only one ransom, it will overlap.
Some of it in others, but the scholars mentioned that if the one left behind was one or two pebbles from the last Jamarat, then he will be pardoned by a group of scholars, and if he left three, he will not be pardoned, but rather he will continue, and if the time has passed, then he must offer a blood sacrifice.
