65/2.21. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 4496 — Safa and Marwa as Symbols of Allah
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 as Symbols of Allah
Sahih Bukhari : 4496
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 4496
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يُوسُفَ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ عَاصِمِ بْنِ سُلَيْمَانَ، قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَنَسَ بْنَ مَالِكٍ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ عَنِ الصَّفَا، وَالْمَرْوَةِ،. فَقَالَ كُنَّا نَرَى أَنَّهُمَا مِنْ أَمْرِ الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ، فَلَمَّا كَانَ الإِسْلاَمُ أَمْسَكْنَا عَنْهُمَا، فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى {إِنَّ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةَ } إِلَى قَوْلِهِ {أَنْ يَطَّوَّفَ بِهِمَا}.
`Asim bin Sulaiman Narrated from:
I asked Anas bin Malik about Safa and Marwa. Anas replied, "We used to consider (i.e. going around) them a custom of the Pre-islamic period of Ignorance, so when Islam came, we gave up going around them.Then 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 4496In-book reference : Book 65, Hadith 23USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 6, Book 60, Hadith 23
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 4496
This hadith about Safa and Marwa as symbols of Allah gives Anas's answer to a direct question. He says they used to see going around Safa and Marwa as something from the pre-Islamic period. When Islam came, they held back from them. Then Allah revealed the verse stating that Safa and Marwa are among the symbols of Allah and that there is no harm for those who perform Hajj or Umrah to go between them. The hadith is useful for anyone searching for Sa'i between Safa and Marwa hadith because it explains why some early Muslims were hesitant. The answer came through revelation, not guesswork.
What we learn from this hadith
- Some Muslims held back because they associated the practice with the pre-Islamic period.
- The verse named Safa and Marwa among Allah's symbols.
- The report connects going between them with Hajj and Umrah.
- Confusion in worship was answered through revelation.
