65/2.21. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 4495 — Correct Understanding of Safa and Marwa
The Statement of Allah "Verily! A-afã and Al-Marwa (two mountains in Makkah) are of the Symbols of Allah..." (V.2:158)
شَعَائِرُ عَلاَمَاتٌ، وَاحِدَتُهَا شَعِيرَةٌ. وَقَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ الصَّفْوَانُ الْحَجَرُ. وَيُقَالُ الْحِجَارَةُ الْمُلْسُ الَّتِي لاَ تُنْبِتُ شَيْئًا، وَالْوَاحِدَةُ صَفْوَانَةٌ بِمَعْنَى الصَّفَا، وَالصَّفَا لِلْجَمِيعِ.
Hadith About Safa and Marwa in Hajj and Umrah
Sahih Bukhari : 4495
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 4495
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ يُوسُفَ، أَخْبَرَنَا مَالِكٌ، عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، أَنَّهُ قَالَ قُلْتُ لِعَائِشَةَ زَوْجِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَأَنَا يَوْمَئِذٍ حَدِيثُ السِّنِّ أَرَأَيْتِ قَوْلَ اللَّهِ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى {إِنَّ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةَ مِنْ شَعَائِرِ اللَّهِ فَمَنْ حَجَّ الْبَيْتَ أَوِ اعْتَمَرَ فَلاَ جُنَاحَ عَلَيْهِ أَنْ يَطَّوَّفَ بِهِمَا} فَمَا أُرَى عَلَى أَحَدٍ شَيْئًا أَنْ لاَ يَطَّوَّفَ بِهِمَا. فَقَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ كَلاَّ لَوْ كَانَتْ كَمَا تَقُولُ كَانَتْ فَلاَ جُنَاحَ عَلَيْهِ أَنْ لاَ يَطَّوَّفَ بِهِمَا، إِنَّمَا أُنْزِلَتْ هَذِهِ الآيَةُ فِي الأَنْصَارِ، كَانُوا يُهِلُّونَ لِمَنَاةَ، وَكَانَتْ مَنَاةُ حَذْوَ قُدَيْدٍ، وَكَانُوا يَتَحَرَّجُونَ أَنْ يَطُوفُوا بَيْنَ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةِ، فَلَمَّا جَاءَ الإِسْلاَمُ سَأَلُوا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَنْ ذَلِكَ فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ {إِنَّ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةَ مِنْ شَعَائِرِ اللَّهِ فَمَنْ حَجَّ الْبَيْتَ أَوِ اعْتَمَرَ فَلاَ جُنَاحَ عَلَيْهِ أَنْ يَطَّوَّفَ بِهِمَا}
`Urwa Narrated from:
I said to `Aisha, the wife of the Prophet, and I was at that time a young boy, "How do you interpret the Statement of Allah: "Verily, Safa and Marwa (i.e. two mountains at Mecca) are among the Symbols of Allah." So it is not harmful of those who perform the Hajj to the House of Allah) or perform the Umra, to ambulate (Tawaf) between them. In my opinion it is not sinful for one not to ambulate (Tawaf) between them."`Aisha said, "Your interpretation is wrong for as you say, the Verse should have been: "So it is not harmful of those who perform the Hajj or Umra to the House, not to ambulate (Tawaf) between them.' This Verse was revealed in connection with the Ansar who (during the Pre-Islamic Period) used to visit Manat (i.e. an idol) after assuming their Ihram, and it was situated near Qudaid (i.e. a place at Mecca), and they used to regard it sinful to ambulate between Safa and Marwa after embracing Islam.When Islam came, they asked Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) about it, whereupon Allah revealed:-- "Verily, Safa and Marwa (i.e. two mountains at Mecca) are among the Symbols of Allah. So it is not harmful of those who perform the Hajj of the House (of Allah) or perform the Umra, to ambulate (Tawaf) between them." (2.158)
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 4495In-book reference : Book 65, Hadith 22USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 6, Book 60, Hadith 22
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 4495
This hadith about Safa and Marwa teaches careful understanding of Qur'anic wording. Urwa thought the verse might mean that not going between Safa and Marwa was also fine. Aisha corrected him and said that if this were the meaning, the wording would have said there is no harm in not going between them. She then explained from the text that the verse was revealed about the Ansar, who had a pre-Islamic practice connected with Manat and felt uneasy about going between Safa and Marwa after Islam. They asked the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم, and the verse was revealed. The core teaching is to avoid quick conclusions and learn the reason given in the report.
What we learn from this hadith
- Aisha corrected a mistaken reading of the verse.
- The verse is connected in the report to the Ansar's concern.
- Safa and Marwa are named as symbols of Allah.
- Asking the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم about worship matters is shown in the text.
