AS-SAFA and AL-MARWATA



The ritual known as Sai’e that involves fast walking between the two hills named as As-Safa and Al-Marwata was believed for the remembrance of Prophet Ibrahim’s wife, Siti Hajar, to emulate her struggle to find water.   The two stone hills today have become a pair from many other places of veneration, to perform prayers / do’a.  The two hills, essential to the rituals of Hajj and Umra’, are part and parcel of association of a particular place with Allah.

Stone

Both, As-Safa and Al-Marwata were mentioned in the Quran, only once.  But does the Quran actualy describe them as two stone hills?


2:158  Indeed, the Al-Safa and Al-Marwata 

are from the signification of Allah [min sha’āiri Allah] .

So whoever, 

challenges the House [hajja l-bayta]

or the sustaining life [awi I’tamara], 

so no difficulty on him 

that he prevails [yattawwafa]

with both of ‘them’. [bi-himā]

And whoever voluntarily does good, 

then indeed, 

Allah (is) All-Appreciative, All-Knowing.


Traditional narrative tells us that Al-Safa and Al-Marwata are the two venerated STONE hills near the Kaaba.   But the Quran states them otherwise, as the true essence of Sha’airi Allah.  So to understand Quranic explanation of As-Safa and Al-Marwata, we simply have to focus on the key word that is:

 

shaʿāiri Allah /  اللَّهِ  شَعَائِرَ

 

Traditionally Translated as:

    Signs - Shakir

    Symbols - Yusuf Ali / Asad

    Generally in this context means our manifestation ( of Allah )

 

So we only have to read the verses that explains 

shaʿāiri Allah /  شَعَائِرَ اللَّهِ

 

This, of course can be found in no other than the Surah Al-Hajj 


22:30 That ; and whoever 

RESPECTS SACRED ORDINANCE ( hurumati ) of Allah‪,

it is better for him with his Lord; and the cattle are made lawful for you, except that which is recited to you, 

and therefore 

AVOID THE UNCLEANNESS OF THE IDOLS AND AVOID FALSE WORDS,  

‪22:31  BEING UPRIGHT for Allah, 

NOT ASSOCIATING AUGHT WITH HIM and who ever associates (others) with Allah, 

it is as though he had fallen from on high, then the birds snatch him away or the wind carries him off to a far-distant place.

22:32  That ; and whoever magnifies the significance of Allah (SHA’AIRI ALLAH ) then indeed it is from mindfulness of the hearts. 


As-Safa : 

Being upright for Allah,

respects the sanctions of Allah, 

 

Marwata :  

not associating aught with Him and whoever associates (others) with Allah,  avoid the uncleanness of the idols and avoid false word. 


 

So clearly As-Safa and Al-Marwata, in the Quran, are in exact opposite to the two hills in Makkah.  Why do we need to associate the two hills with Allah, the Lord of the Universe? Do we know how vast the universe is?



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