Is It Permissible to Use a Previously Thrown Pebble for Stoning? Complete Explanation
Source: Fatāwā Arkān al-Islām
It is said that using a pebble that has already been used for stoning (Ramy al-Jamarāt) is not permissible. Is this correct? What is the evidence?
Alḥamdulillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, Ammā Baʿd!
This claim is incorrect — it is permissible to perform Ramy with a pebble that has been used before.
Those who say it is not permissible base their view on three main arguments:
◈ They claim that a previously thrown pebble is like water that has been used for ṭahārah wājibah (obligatory purification, i.e., wudū’ or ghusl).
◈ Such water, according to them, remains pure (ṭāhir) but is no longer purifying (muṭahhir).
◈ They compare it to a slave who has been freed — such a person can no longer be freed again as a kaffārah or due to any other legal reason, and likewise, a used pebble can no longer be used again for stoning.
◈ They say that if reusing pebbles were allowed, it would mean all pilgrims could keep using the same pebble repeatedly.
◈ One person would throw it seven times, pick it back up, throw again, and then pass it to another pilgrim, until everyone completes Ramy with that same pebble.
◈ This argument is invalid because the premise itself is incorrect — there is no sound evidence that water used for obligatory purification ceases to be purifying.
◈ Without evidence, water remains in its original state — ṭahūr (pure and purifying).
◈ Since the base ruling is incorrect, any analogy built on it is also invalid.
◈ This is an invalid analogy (qiyās maʿ al-fāriq).
◈ A freed slave loses his original state of being a slave — hence he cannot be freed again.
◈ But a pebble remains a pebble even after being thrown; its essential nature does not change.
◈ The quality that makes it suitable for stoning remains.
◈ Also, if someone were to become a slave again due to a legal reason, freeing him again would be permissible — breaking the analogy entirely.
◈ This is merely a hypothetical argument with no practical relevance.
◈ Given the massive quantity of pebbles available, no sane pilgrim would collect only previously thrown stones for reuse.
◈ Therefore, it is an unrealistic scenario.
From all of this, it is clear that:
◈ If, near the Jamarāt, you drop one or more of your pebbles,
◈ You may pick up others from the ground and use them for Ramy,
◈ Even if you believe it is likely they were previously used by someone else.
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
(This is my opinion, and Allah knows best what is correct.)
Source: Fatāwā Arkān al-Islām
Question
It is said that using a pebble that has already been used for stoning (Ramy al-Jamarāt) is not permissible. Is this correct? What is the evidence?
Answer
Alḥamdulillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, Ammā Baʿd!
This claim is incorrect — it is permissible to perform Ramy with a pebble that has been used before.
Those who say it is not permissible base their view on three main arguments:
Three Stated Reasons
➊ Analogy with Used Water
◈ They claim that a previously thrown pebble is like water that has been used for ṭahārah wājibah (obligatory purification, i.e., wudū’ or ghusl).
◈ Such water, according to them, remains pure (ṭāhir) but is no longer purifying (muṭahhir).
➋ Analogy with a Freed Slave
◈ They compare it to a slave who has been freed — such a person can no longer be freed again as a kaffārah or due to any other legal reason, and likewise, a used pebble can no longer be used again for stoning.
➌ The “One Pebble for Everyone” Argument
◈ They say that if reusing pebbles were allowed, it would mean all pilgrims could keep using the same pebble repeatedly.
◈ One person would throw it seven times, pick it back up, throw again, and then pass it to another pilgrim, until everyone completes Ramy with that same pebble.
The Scholarly Weakness of These Arguments
➊ First Reason: Analogy with Used Water
◈ This argument is invalid because the premise itself is incorrect — there is no sound evidence that water used for obligatory purification ceases to be purifying.
◈ Without evidence, water remains in its original state — ṭahūr (pure and purifying).
◈ Since the base ruling is incorrect, any analogy built on it is also invalid.
➋ Second Reason: Analogy with a Freed Slave
◈ This is an invalid analogy (qiyās maʿ al-fāriq).
◈ A freed slave loses his original state of being a slave — hence he cannot be freed again.
◈ But a pebble remains a pebble even after being thrown; its essential nature does not change.
◈ The quality that makes it suitable for stoning remains.
◈ Also, if someone were to become a slave again due to a legal reason, freeing him again would be permissible — breaking the analogy entirely.
➌ Third Reason: One Pebble for Everyone
◈ This is merely a hypothetical argument with no practical relevance.
◈ Given the massive quantity of pebbles available, no sane pilgrim would collect only previously thrown stones for reuse.
◈ Therefore, it is an unrealistic scenario.
Practical Guidance
From all of this, it is clear that:
◈ If, near the Jamarāt, you drop one or more of your pebbles,
◈ You may pick up others from the ground and use them for Ramy,
◈ Even if you believe it is likely they were previously used by someone else.
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
(This is my opinion, and Allah knows best what is correct.)
