The ruling on stoning the Pillar of Al-'Aqabah at Night
Question :
Is it permissible to stone the pillar of Al-"Aqabah at night, meaning during the night before 'Eidul-Adhha after leaving from Muzdalifah to Mina at night? What does your eminence have to say about the authentic Hadith, which is the statement of the Prophet ﷺ to the youth of Bani 'Abdul-Muttalib:
"Do not stone the pillar until the sun has risen."
Answer:
What is better for those who are strong is that they stone the pillar of Al-'Aqabah on the day of the 'Eid after sunrise, in following the Prophet ﷺ and acting according to the mentioned Hadith. In reference to the people with excuses, who are those who are weak, it (stoning) is permissible for them during the last half of the night due to the reported Hadiths concerning this. Among those Hadiths is the Hadith of Umm Salamah that she stoned the pillar before Fajr time. This was recorded by Abu Dawud with an authentic chain of narration. It is also due to what Al-Bukhari recorded from 'Abdullah, the freed slave of Asma', who said that she came and settled in Muzdalifah on the night of Jam'. Then she stood and prayed, and she prayed for an hour. Then, she said, 'Hey my little son, has the moon disappeared?' I said, 'No.' So, she prayed another hour, and then she said, 'Has the moon disappeared?' I said, 'Yes.' She then said, 'Let's go. So, we left and we traveled on until she stoned the pillar of Al-'Aqabah. Then, she returned and offered the morning prayer at her place (i.e., her tent in Mina). So, I said to her, 'O woman, I think that we have come (to Mina) at night.' She replied, 'O my little son, verily the Messenger of Allâh ﷺ allowed this for the women."" In reference to the Hadith of Ibn 'Abbas concerning stoning after sunrise, indeed some of the people of knowledge have declared it weak due to a break in its chain of narration. Even if it is considered authentic, it is understood to mean recommendation and preference. This is combining between the reported Hadiths concerning that, as Al-Hafiz Ibn Hajar noted. And Allah knows best.
Source:
The Permanent Committee
Fatawa Islamiyah, Vol. 4 Pages 245-246