Q: One of my friends accepted six hundred Riyals from some pilgrims as payment for throwing the pebbles (at the pebble-throwing area during Hajj) on their behalf on the last two days of the Days of Tashriq (11th, 12th and 13th of Dhul-Hijjah). Unfortunately, he did not stone the pillars and now he is confused about his situation. Please give us a Fatwa (legal opinion issued by a qualified Muslim scholar) concerning this matter, may Allah reward you with the best ! A: It is obligatory upon each one of these pilgrims and upon your friend to offer a Fidyah (ransom) because he did not throw pebbles on their behalf .This Fidyah is to be a sheep that meets the same conditions for Ud-hiyah (sacrificial animal offered by non-pilgrims) and should be slaughtered in Makkah and its meat should be distributed among the poor there. The basic principle is that it is obligatory upon the pilgrim to perform the rituals of Hajj on their own, and this includes throwing the pebbles (at the pebble-throwing area during Hajj). If they are unable to do so, then it is permissible for them to appoint another pilgrim to do so on their behalf. Your friend must return the money he took to its owners if he knows them. He also has to inform them about what happened so that they will offer a Fidyah (ransom) for themselves. If he does not know them, then he must use the money to buy a sacrificial animal for each one of the pilgrims. If the sacrifices cost more than the sum he took from them, he must provide the rest from his own money because he neglected to throw the pebbles on their behalf. The sacrificial animal may be one seventh of a camel or a cow or one sheep for every person. If he cannot afford this, he must fast ten days for each one of them. (Part No. 10; Page No. 332

A: It is obligatory upon each one of these pilgrims and upon your friend to offer a Fidyah (ransom) because he did not throw pebbles on their behalf .This Fidyah is to be a sheep that meets the same conditions for Ud-hiyah (sacrificial animal offered by non-pilgrims) and should be slaughtered in Makkah and its meat should be distributed among the poor there. The basic principle is that it is obligatory upon the pilgrim to perform the rituals of Hajj on their own, and this includes throwing the pebbles (at the pebble-throwing area during Hajj). If they are unable to do so, then it is permissible for them to appoint another pilgrim to do so on their behalf. Your friend must return the money he took to its owners if he knows them. He also has to inform them about what happened so that they will offer a Fidyah (ransom) for themselves. If he does not know them, then he must use the money to buy a sacrificial animal for each one of the pilgrims. If the sacrifices cost more than the sum he took from them, he must provide the rest from his own money because he neglected to throw the pebbles on their behalf. The sacrificial animal may be one seventh of a camel or a cow or one sheep for every person. If he cannot afford this, he must fast ten days for each one of them. (Part No. 10; Page No. 332) May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.