Q 2: One of my relatives performed Hajj last year. On throwing the Jamarat (stone pillars marking the pebble-throwing area, Jamarat-ul-`Aqabah being the closest to Makkah), he authorized another pilgrim to throw the Jamarat on his behalf, but that authorized person did not throw (Part No. 10; Page No. 327) the Jamarat on the second and third days of Tashriq (11th, 12th and 13th of Dhul-Hijjah). What is your opinion regarding this issue?

A: Islam basically prescribes that a pilgrim performs all the rituals of Hajj by themselves. It is not permissible for a pilgrim to authorize others to throw the Jamarat on his behalf unless he is not able to throw the Jamarat by himself. If the person referred to above authorized another person to throw the Jamarat on his behalf even though he was able to do so, this person is sinful and the obligatory act of throwing the Jamarat has not been fulfilled. If this person was not able to do so, it is permissible for him to authorize another person to throw the Jamarat on his behalf. Moreover, the person authorized to throw the Jamarat have to fulfill his commitment in the legally prescribed manner. Since this person did not fulfill his commitment, he is sinful and the authorizing person have to offer a sacrificial animal meeting the same conditions for Ud-hiyah (a sacrificial animal offered by non-pilgrims) to be slaughtered in Makkah and its meat is distributed among the poor people at the Haram (all areas within the Sacred Sanctuary of Makkah).May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.