Washing The Pebbles Used For Rami

It is Mustahab to wash to pebbles which one is going to use for Rami as stated in the Manaasik of
Mulla Ali Al Qaari Rahimahullah. This is to ascertain that the pebbles are clean. Since the pebbles are used for an act of Qurbah (seeking proximity to Allah Ta’aala), one should try their best to ensure that the pebbles are clean and free from any impurity, and this is achieved by washing.

It should, however, be borne in mind that the action of washing the stones is  Mustahab not compulsory. Therefore, one should not criticize a person who does not do it.

As for calling the action a Bid’ah, many people in our present era are quick to call Islamic practices Bid’ah due to the lack of knowledge on their side. This ignorance of theirs does not negate the validity of the action. In fact, the author Al Bahrul ‘Ameeq mentions that, the Sahabi Ibn Umar Radiallahu Anhu would wash his pebbles which he gathered for pelting the Jamaraat and he was known to be an ardent follower of the Sunnah of Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam. He also  mentioned that the Tabi’ee Taawus Rahimahullah also used to wash the pebbles. In the Musannaf of Ibn Abi  Shaybah, he mentioned a narration that shows that the Tabi’ee Saeed Ibn Jubayr Rahimahullah used to wash the pebbles which will be used for pelting the Jamaraat and he mentioned the narration wherein the son of Taawus Rahimahullah mentioned that his father Taawus Rahimahullah used to wash the pebbles which will be used for the pelting the Jamaraat.