Mistakes in Stoning the Pillars for Hajj Pilgrims

Mistakes in Stoning the Pillars for Hajj Pilgrims

Stoning the pillars is one of the activities in the sequence of Hajj rituals. Pilgrims throw small stones at three pillars located in a place called the Jumrah Bridge Complex in the city of Mina near Mecca. After standing at Arafah, pilgrims will spend the night at Muzdalifah and Mina to stone the al-Aqabah, middle, and first pillars.

When stoning the pillars, pilgrims are advised to remain calm and not push each other; furthermore, pilgrims are also advised to recite takbir. However, in practice, many pilgrims still make mistakes in stoning the pillars. Some of the mistakes in stoning the pillars are as follows:

1. When stoning the pillars, some pilgrims believe they are throwing stones at Satan. Therefore, they throw with great anger accompanied by cursing. However, stoning the pillars is prescribed solely as a remembrance of Allah.

2. Some of them stone the pillars with large stones, shoes, or wood. This is an act of excess in religious matters, which is forbidden by the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him).

What is prescribed for throwing is only with small pebbles the size of chickpeas.

3. Crowding and striking each other near the pillars in order to throw. What is prescribed is to throw calmly and carefully, and to strive as much as possible not to hurt others.

4. Throwing all the stones at once. According to scholars, such an action is counted as only one stone. What is prescribed is to throw the stones one by one while reciting takbir with each throw.

5. Delegating the throwing while being capable oneself, in order to avoid difficulty and crowding. However, delegating the throwing is only permissible if one is truly unable due to illness or the like.

Source: Guide to Hajj and Umrah, Office of Da'wah and Guidance, Al Sulay - Riyadh

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