The ruling on stoning the pillars with fewer than seven pebbles

Question : Shaykh, regarding your comment (may Allah preserve you) on the statement when al-Tirmidhi narrated: “We returned from Hajj with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), some of us saying, ‘I stoned with six,’ and some saying, ‘I stoned with seven,’ and none of us knew the exact number of the others.” What is your comment (may Allah bless you)?

Answer : I say that this indicates that the matter is broad and that dropping one or two pebbles is not a problem. However, we do not issue a fatwa to this effect except in cases of dire necessity, such as when a person comes and says, “I stoned with five” or “I stoned with seven,” because the Companions mentioned this after the act was performed.