Chapter: The Ruling on Performing the Stoning First (1)
The First Ḥadith
ʿAbd Allah (2) ibn ʿAmr ibn al-ʿĀṣ (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: During the Farewell Pilgrimage the Messenger of Allah ﷺ halted, and the people began putting their questions to him. One man said, “I was unaware and shaved my head before offering the sacrifice.” He replied, “Offer the sacrifice, and there is no sin.” Another said, “I was unaware and slaughtered before throwing the pebbles.” He answered, “Throw, and there is no sin.” The narrator adds: On that day he was not asked about anything that had been done earlier or later than its prescribed order except that he said, “Do it, and there is no sin.”
Overall meaning:
The tenth of Dhū al-Ḥijjah—the Day of Sacrifice and the Greatest Day of Hajj—is one of the most excellent and blessed days because of the great acts of worship performed on it, especially by the pilgrim who carries out four major rites:
- Stoning the pillar;
- Sacrificing;
- Shaving or trimming the hair; and
- Circumambulating the Ancient House.
The sunnah is to perform them in this sequence, emulating the Prophet ﷺ and arranging the rites in their fitting order. One starts by throwing the pebbles at the Jamrat al-ʿAqabah, for this stoning is the greeting of Mina. Next he sacrifices his offering, hastening to shed the blood as an act of humility and obedience, and to benefit the poor and needy so they may share in the joy of the festival. Then he shaves or trims his hair, initiating his release from the state of consecration and preparing himself—adorned and in good appearance—for the circumambulation of the House.
This is what the pilgrim is prescribed to do; it is what the Prophet ﷺ himself did, after which he declared, “Learn your rites from me.”
Nevertheless, the Lawgiver is merciful and all-knowing. If a person, out of ignorance of the ruling or through forgetfulness, performs some of these acts before others, he incurs neither sin nor penalty.