15/43. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 1277a — Sa'i Between Safa and Marwa
Clarifying that Sa'i between As-safa and Al-Marwah is a pillar of Hajj, without which Hajj is not valid
Sa'i Between Safa and Marwa Hadith: A'isha’s Clear Answer
Sahih Muslim : 1277a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 1277a
حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ، عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَ قُلْتُ لَهَا إِنِّي لأَظُنُّ رَجُلاً لَوْ لَمْ يَطُفْ بَيْنَ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةِ مَا ضَرَّهُ . قَالَتْ لِمَ قُلْتُ لأَنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى يَقُولُ { إِنَّ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةَ مِنْ شَعَائِرِ اللَّهِ} إِلَى آخِرِ الآيَةِ . فَقَالَتْ مَا أَتَمَّ اللَّهُ حَجَّ امْرِئٍ وَلاَ عُمْرَتَهُ لَمْ يَطُفْ بَيْنَ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةِ وَلَوْ كَانَ كَمَا تَقُولُ لَكَانَ فَلاَ جُنَاحَ عَلَيْهِ أَنْ لاَ يَطَّوَّفَ بِهِمَا . وَهَلْ تَدْرِي فِيمَا كَانَ ذَاكَ إِنَّمَا كَانَ ذَاكَ أَنَّ الأَنْصَارَ كَانُوا يُهِلُّونَ فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ لِصَنَمَيْنِ عَلَى شَطِّ الْبَحْرِ يُقَالُ لَهُمَا إِسَافٌ وَنَائِلَةٌ . ثُمَّ يَجِيئُونَ فَيَطُوفُونَ بَيْنَ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةِ ثُمَّ يَحْلِقُونَ . فَلَمَّا جَاءَ الإِسْلاَمُ كَرِهُوا أَنْ يَطُوفُوا بَيْنَهُمَا لِلَّذِي كَانُوا يَصْنَعُونَ فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ قَالَتْ فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ { إِنَّ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةَ مِنْ شَعَائِرِ اللَّهِ} إِلَى آخِرِهَا - قَالَتْ - فَطَافُوا .
A'isha Narrated from:
Hisham b. 'Urwa reported on the authority of his father who narrated from 'A'isha. He said to 'A'isha: I think if a person does not run between al- Safa' and al-Marwa, It does not do any harm to him (so far as Hajj is concerned). She said: Why (do you think so)?I said: For Allah says:" Verily al-Safa' and al-Marwa are among the Signs of Allah" (ii. 158) (to the end of the verse), whereupon she said: Allah does not complete the Hajj of a person or his Umra if he does not observe Sa'i between al-Safa' and al-marwa; and if it were so as you state, then (the wording would have been (fala janah an la yatufu biha) [" There is no harm for him if he does not circumambulate between them']. Do you know in what context (this verse was revealed)? (It was revealed in this context) that the Ansar in the Days of Ignorance pronounced the Talbiya for two idols. (fixed on the bank of the river which were called Isaf and Na'ila. The people went there, and then circumambulated between al-Safa' and al-Marwa and then got their heads shaved. With the advent of Islam they (the Muslims) did not like to circumambulate between them as they used to do during the Days of Ignorance. It was on account of this that Allah. the Exalted and Majestic, revealed:" Verily al-Safe and al-Marwa are among the Signs of Allah" to the end of the verse. She said: Then people began to observe Sa'i.
[1] Al-Baqarah 2:158.Reference : Sahih Muslim 1277aIn-book reference : Book 15, Hadith 285USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 7, Hadith 2923
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 1277a
This Sa'i between Safa and Marwa hadith records a question to A'isha about whether leaving Sa'i would harm a person’s Hajj. She rejected that idea and explained that Allah does not complete a person’s Hajj or Umrah if he does not observe Sa'i between al-Safa and al-Marwa. She also explained why the verse was revealed. Some people had disliked performing Sa'i because of earlier practices from the Days of Ignorance linked to idols. The verse, “Verily al-Safa and al-Marwa are among the Signs of Allah,” removed that reluctance. The report teaches that the wording of the verse must be understood carefully, and that Sa'i became practiced by the people.
What we learn from this hadith
- A'isha corrected the idea that Sa'i could be left without effect.
- She linked completion of Hajj and Umrah with Sa'i between Safa and Marwa.
- The report explains the concern caused by earlier pre-Islamic practice.
- Qur'anic wording should be read with care and proper understanding.
