Whether stones falling into the pool when stoning the pillars is sufficient, or whether hitting the standing pillar is required

Question:
May Allah reward you. Another question, also from a person who did not give his name or a code, asks about stoning the pillars during Hajj. He says in a long question: On the Day of Sacrifice, I threw the Jamarat al-Aqabah with seven pebbles, and some of them flew past the pillar, so I replaced them with others, but I am not certain that the total of seven pebbles either fell or hit the pillar. I did the same on the eleventh day for all three pillars; I threw each pillar with about ten pebbles because I was not sure that seven pebbles reached the pillar. On the night of the twelfth day, I repeated the stoning from the beginning: I first threw the Greater Jamarat al-Aqabah with the intention of the Day of Sacrifice, then I went back to the Small Jamarat and threw it with the intention of the eleventh day, and likewise the Middle one, then the Greater one. I did the same with the intention of the twelfth day, the day I was in, and I threw in order from the Small to the Middle to the Greater. Sometimes some pebbles fly away, but I replace them. The important thing is that I made sure that exactly seven pebbles reached the pillar for each pillar. As for the thirteenth day, I threw my pebbles after the sun passed its zenith, in order, and I am certain that seven pebbles reached each pillar. Is my action correct? Please give us a ruling, may Allah reward you with good.

Answer:
What is stoned is the pool, not the standing pillar. The pillar was made a marker for the target so that a person can see it from afar, come to it, and be guided by it to know that this is the place for stoning the Jamarat. It is necessary for the pebbles to fall into the pool, whether they hit the pillar and fell into the pool, or fell directly into the pool, even if they did not pass by the pillar. If you threw seven pebbles and all of them fell into the pool, then it is valid and sufficient, if Allah wills. If you threw and hit the pillar, but they flew away and did not fall into the pool, then it is not sufficient. Be aware of this. What you did of stoning the pillars on the last day of the days of Tashreeq, in order from the first, second, and third day, is a precautionary act. However, from the beginning, you must ensure the validity of your stoning, and the place where it is thrown, and it is a condition that the pebbles fall in it, in order for your stoning to be valid, if Allah wills. Yes.