Which Ayah Did the Prophet (PBUH) Recite at Safa and Marwah?
ما الآية التي قرأها النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم فوق الصفا والمروة؟
The ayah is: (Indeed, ˹the hills of˺ Ṣafa and Marwah are among the symbols of Allah.) [Al-Baqarah 2:158]
الآية هي: (إن الصفا والمروة من شعائر الله) [البقرة 2: 158]
1. The Ayah He Recited as He Approached Safa | الآية التي تلاها عند الصفا
In the Farewell Pilgrimage, when the Prophet approached Safa he recited: Indeed, Safa and Marwah are among the symbols of Allah, and said: I begin with what Allah began with; and he began at Safa (Sahih Muslim 1218). Another narration has: We begin with what Allah began with (Jami at-Tirmidhi 862, which at-Tirmidhi graded hasan sahih). The Sa'i is part of Umrah as well as Hajj, as explained in the ruling on Umrah.
إِنَّ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةَ مِن شَعَائِرِ اللَّهِ (سورة البقرة: 158)
في حجة الوداع لما دنا النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم من الصفا قرأ: (إن الصفا والمروة من شعائر الله) وقال: "أبدأ بما بدأ الله به"، فبدأ بالصفا (صحيح مسلم 1218)، وفي رواية: "نبدأ بما بدأ الله به" (جامع الترمذي 862، وقال: حسن صحيح).
2. Why the Verse Says There Is No Blame | سبب قوله تعالى: فلا جناح عليه
Aishah explained that before Islam the Ansar used to begin their pilgrimage in the name of the idol Manat, and anyone who did so felt uneasy about walking between Safa and Marwah. When they became Muslims they asked the Prophet, and Allah revealed this verse. She said: The Messenger of Allah established the walk between them, so no one may leave it (Sahih al-Bukhari 1643).
فَمَنْ حَجَّ الْبَيْتَ أَوِ اعْتَمَرَ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْهِ أَن يَطَّوَّفَ بِهِمَا (سورة البقرة: 158)
بينت عائشة رضي الله عنها أن الأنصار كانوا قبل أن يسلموا يهلون لمناة الطاغية، فكان من أهل يتحرج أن يطوف بالصفا والمروة، فلما أسلموا سألوا رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، فأنزل الله الآية، قالت: "وقد سن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم الطواف بينهما، فليس لأحد أن يترك الطواف بينهما" (صحيح البخاري 1643).
3. Hajar's Search Between the Two Hills | سعي هاجر بين الجبلين
Ibn Abbas narrated that when Hajar's water ran out, she climbed Safa to look for anyone, crossed the valley to Marwah, and did this seven times; the Prophet said: That is the Sa'i of the people between them (Sahih al-Bukhari 3364). Her story begins with Ibrahim leaving his wife and son in a barren valley.
روى ابن عباس أن هاجر لما نفد ماؤها صعدت الصفا تنظر هل ترى أحدا، ثم سعت في الوادي حتى أتت المروة، ففعلت ذلك سبع مرات، قال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم: "فذلك سعي الناس بينهما" (صحيح البخاري 3364).
4. Remembrance Upon Safa | الذكر على الصفا
He climbed Safa until he could see the House, faced the qiblah, declared Allah's oneness and greatness, and said: There is no god but Allah alone, without partner; His is the dominion and His is the praise, and He has power over all things; there is no god but Allah alone; He fulfilled His promise, gave victory to His servant, and alone defeated the confederates (Sahih Muslim 1218). Years earlier, Safa was where the Prophet first called Quraysh openly, as told in when he began calling to Islam openly.
ثم رقي الصفا حتى رأى البيت، فاستقبل القبلة فوحد الله وكبره وقال: "لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له، له الملك وله الحمد وهو على كل شيء قدير، لا إله إلا الله وحده، أنجز وعده، ونصر عبده، وهزم الأحزاب وحده" (صحيح مسلم 1218).
5. The Call to Pilgrimage | الأذان بالحج
The Sa'i is among the rites of the pilgrimage that Allah commanded Ibrahim to proclaim: announce the pilgrimage among the people; they will come to you on foot and on every lean camel, from every distant pass (Al-Hajj 22:27). Read more in the tafsir of Surah Al-Hajj.
وَأَذِّن فِي النَّاسِ بِالْحَجِّ يَأْتُوكَ رِجَالًا وَعَلَىٰ كُلِّ ضَامِرٍ يَأْتِينَ مِن كُلِّ فَجٍّ عَمِيقٍ (سورة الحج: 27)
والسعي من مناسك الحج التي أمر الله إبراهيم عليه السلام أن يؤذن بها في الناس: (وأذن في الناس بالحج يأتوك رجالا وعلى كل ضامر يأتين من كل فج عميق) (الحج 22: 27).
Frequently Asked Questions | الأسئلة الشائعة
Which ayah did the Prophet recite at Safa?
Al-Baqarah 2:158: Indeed, Safa and Marwah are among the symbols of Allah.
What did the Prophet say after reciting it?
I begin with what Allah began with, and he began the Sa’i at Safa (Sahih Muslim 1218).
Why does the verse say there is no blame in walking between them?
The Ansar had felt uneasy about it because of the idol Manat before Islam, so Allah revealed that there is no blame (Sahih al-Bukhari 1643).
What event does the Sa’i recall?
Hajar running between Safa and Marwah seven times in search of water for Isma’il (Sahih al-Bukhari 3364).