Discover the major mistakes pilgrims make when stoning the Jamarat (Ramy) during Hajj. Learn the authentic Sunnah rulings on pebbles, the pit, and delegation.
Praise be to Allah, and blessings and peace be upon the Messenger of Allah, his family, and his companions.
To perfect the Hajj, a pilgrim must perform the rituals exactly as demonstrated by Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. The stoning of the Jamarat was not prescribed as a physical battle, but rather as an act of worship. 'Aishah (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا) narrated that Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:
Despite this clear purpose, several widespread mistakes occur during this ritual:
Many pilgrims endure great hardship searching for pebbles specifically in Muzdalifah, mistakenly believing their stoning is invalid otherwise. There is no report stating that Prophet Muhammad ﷺ collected his pebbles from Muzdalifah. Pebbles may be gathered from anywhere, including Mina, as the Sunnah is only established by the words, actions, or approvals of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
Some individuals wash their pebbles before throwing them, either to clean them or out of fear that they carry impurities. Doing this as an act of worship is an innovation (Bid'ah), because Prophet Muhammad ﷺ never washed his pebbles. If done without a religious intention, it is simply foolishness and a waste of time.
A grave error is the belief that the Jamarat pillars are the actual Shaytan. This false notion causes pilgrims to become extremely angry and emotional, acting like a "crazy camel" and harming the weak individuals around them. It also leads them to abandon the prescribed Sunnah of saying "Allahu Akbar" in favor of invented statements like "O Allah, we are angry with the Shaytan".
Furthermore, this misconception causes people to throw large rocks, shoes, or pieces of wood for "revenge," which is strictly forbidden. Ibn 'Abbas (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) narrated that Prophet Muhammad ﷺ commanded him to pick up pebbles slightly larger than a chickpea, explicitly warning:
We stone the Jamarat purely out of veneration for Allah and adherence to the Sunnah.
Some pilgrims do not care whether their pebbles actually land inside the pit surrounding the Jamarat. If a pebble does not land in the pit, the throw is invalid. Conversely, others mistakenly believe the pebble must strike the physical pillar. The pillar is merely a marker for the pit; as long as the pebble lands in the pit, the duty is discharged, whether it hits the pillar or not. (Note: In matters of worship where absolute certainty is difficult, Islam allows one to act upon what they think is most likely to have happened).
A very serious mistake is delegating someone else to perform the stoning simply because of overcrowding or a desire for convenience. Allah commands:
meaning one must fulfill the rituals themselves.
Overcrowding is not a valid excuse, because the Shari'ah has provided ease: a pilgrim who fears the daytime crowds may delay their stoning to the night, performing it in a calm and dignified manner. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ did not tell the weak members of his family, such as Sawdah bint Zam'ah (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا), to delegate their stoning; instead, he permitted them to leave Muzdalifah early to stone before the crowds arrived.
Delegation is only permissible for those who are genuinely physically incapable of performing the stoning themselves, either by day or night, such as the severely disabled or young children.
And Allah the Exalted knows best.