The ruling on performing the tawaf of ifadah before stoning the large Jamarat al-Aqabah

Question:
The questioner says: Your Eminence the Shaykh, is it permissible, after leaving 'Arafah and spending the night at Muzdalifah and departing it after midnight, to go to Makkah, the Sacred Mosque, to perform the tawaf of ifadah before stoning the large Jamarat al-Aqabah?

Answer:
There is no harm in that. If they are dispersed from Muzdalifah in the latter half of the night, there is nothing wrong with their going to Makkah for the tawaf, as Umm Salimah did by the command of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). After Muzdalifah, she went to Makkah and performed the tawaf, then returned to Mina and stoned the Jamarat. So there is no harm in that. However, it is better to begin with the stoning, then the shaving or shortening of the hair—and for a woman, only the shortening is required—then the tawaf after that. This is the better course. But if one goes to Makkah and performs the tawaf before stoning and before shaving, there is no harm in that, and praise be to Allah. Yes.