Lessons Learned from Stoning the Pillars

Question: What is the lesson that a Muslim takes away when he stons the pillars?

Answer: Stoning the Jamarat al-Aqabah on the Day of 'Id and stoning the three pillars on the days of Mina, at the times prescribed by the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), benefits the Muslim with great reward and many lessons, among which are:

First: It is an example to follow from our father Ibrahim al-Khalil (peace be upon him) when Shaytan opposed him in these instances, and from our Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) when he legislated this for his Ummah during the Farewell Pilgrimage.

Second: Establishing the remembrance of Allah and proclaiming it, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): .

Third: Adhering to the number seven has a great wisdom, which is to remind us of what Allah has legislated regarding this number. It is stoned with seven pebbles, just as the tawaf is seven times and the sa'y is seven times. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: . And He (Glorified and Exalted is He) has many wisdoms in what He legislates for His servants, some of which the servants may know, or some of which they may not know. But they are certain that Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) is Wise and All-Knowing, and He does not do anything or legislate anything in vain.

Fourth: That Islam is a religion of obedience to the command of Allah, and that the Muslim is commanded to worship according to the legislative text, even if the secrets behind it are hidden from him. This is because Allah is All-Knowing of everything and Wise in everything, and the knowledge of humans is limited and amounts to nothing compared to the knowledge of Allah . Therefore, it is obligatory for the Muslim to submit to His judgment and obey His command, even if he does not know the wisdom behind it.

Fifth: Stoning the pillars makes the Muslim feel humility and submission in obeying the command during its performance. It also accustoms the individual Muslim to order and organization in the specified times, and to consistency in going to stone the first, second, and third pillars, which is the Jamarat al-Aqabah. It also involves adhering to the seven pebbles, one after another, with calmness and without harming others by word or deed. All of this accustoms the believer to organizing important matters and caring for them so that they are performed in their times completely.

Sixth: Keeping the pebbles and not placing them in other places makes the Muslim feel the importance of preserving what his Lord has legislated, and avoiding extravagance and placing things in their proper places without waste, excess, or deficiency.