How can we reconcile the Hadith, "Indeed, they are being tormented, and they are not being tormented for a major sin. As for one of them, he used to walk among people spreading gossip, and as for the other, he did not used to clean himself properly from his urine," with the legitimacy of using stones for purification (istijmar)?

"Istibra'" from urine means not taking precautions against the body and clothes becoming soiled by it, either during urination or afterwards due to the exit of residual drops of urine. The hadith has been narrated in three versions: "yastatir" (he covers himself), "yastanzih" (he purifies himself), and "yastabri'" (he cleanses himself thoroughly), all of which mean not taking precautions against urine. Neglecting to take precautions against urine leads to punishment. If a person performs "istibra'" from his urine and purifies himself from it, he has fulfilled his obligation. Cleansing from urine is done with pure water or by using stones (istijmar); both are purifying, and combining them is better.