Section: If he omits standing at them [the Jamarat] and supplication, he has omitted a Sunnah, and nothing is due from him. This is the view held by al-Shafi'i, Abu Hanifa, Ishaq (23), and Abu Thawr. We know of no dissenter in this regard, except for al-Thawri. He said: He should feed something, and if he spills blood [sacrifices an animal], it is more beloved to me; because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) performed it, so it becomes a ritual act. Our evidence is that it is a supplication during an ordained standing (24), so nothing is made obligatory by omitting it, similar to the case of seeing the House [the Kaaba], and like all other supplications. Moreover, it is one of the Jamarat, so standing at it and supplicating is not obligatory, like the first one. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to perform both obligatory and recommended acts, and we have already mentioned (25) the evidence that this is a recommendation.

Section: It is best not to throw fewer than seven pebbles, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) threw seven pebbles. If he falls short by one or two pebbles, there is no harm, but he should not fall short by more than that. Ahmad stated this explicitly, and it is the view of Mujahid and Ishaq. In another narration from him: If he threw six out of forgetfulness, there is nothing due from him, but he should not do so intentionally; if he does so intentionally, he must give something in charity. Ibn Umar used to say: I do not care if I throw six or seven. [And Ibn Abbas said: I do not know if the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) threw six or seven] (26). According to another narration from Ahmad, the number seven is a condition. This resembles (27) the school of al-Shafi'i and the scholars of opinion (Ahl al-Ra'y), because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) threw seven. Abu Hayya said: There is no harm in whatever amount of pebbles a man throws with. Abdullah ibn Amr said: Abu Hayya spoke the truth. Abu Hayya was a veteran of Badr. The rationale for the first narration is what Ibn Abi Najih narrated, saying: Tawus was asked about a man who left out a pebble? He said: He should give a date or a morsel of food in charity. I mentioned this to Mujahid, and he said: Abu Abd al-Rahman [Tawus] did not hear the saying of Sa'd. Sa'd said: We returned from the Hajj with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), and some of us would say: I threw six, and others would say: Seven. And we did not blame one another for that.