۞ إِنَّ ٱلصَّفَا وَٱلْمَرْوَةَ مِن شَعَآئِرِ ٱللَّهِ ۖ فَمَنْ حَجَّ ٱلْبَيْتَ أَوِ ٱعْتَمَرَ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْهِ أَن يَطَّوَّفَ بِهِمَا ۚ وَمَن تَطَوَّعَ خَيْرًا فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ شَاكِرٌ عَلِيمٌ 158
Translations
Indeed, aṣ-Ṣafā and al-Marwah are among the symbols of Allāh. So whoever makes ḥajj [pilgrimage] to the House or performs ʿumrah - there is no blame upon him for walking between them. And whoever volunteers good - then indeed, Allāh is Appreciative and Knowing.
Transliteration
Inna al-safa wa-al-marwata min shaʿāʾiri Allāh, faman hajja al-bayta awi iʿtamara falā junāha ʿalayhi an yattawwafa bihimā, wa-man tatawwaʿa khayran fa-inna Allāha shākir ʿalīm.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah establishes that Safa and Marwa are among the sacred rites (shaʿāʾir) of Allah, and declares that there is no sin upon the pilgrim who performs Tawaf (circumambulation) between these two hills during Hajj or ʿUmrah. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir note this ayah addresses a pre-Islamic custom where some believers hesitated to perform this rite due to its association with pagan rituals, clarifying its legitimacy in Islamic worship. The concluding phrase emphasizes Allah's gratitude and knowledge of sincere voluntary deeds, encouraging believers to go beyond obligatory acts with excellence (ihsān).
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed during the Medinan period to address specific concerns among early Muslims about the Tawaf between Safa and Marwa. Historically, pagan Arabs had placed idols on these hills during the Jāhiliyyah, causing some Muslim converts to feel uncomfortable performing this rite. The ayah clarifies that the rite itself is from Allah's ordinances and legitimate in Islam despite its pre-Islamic associations.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Muslim (1218): ʿĀʾishah reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) performed Tawaf between Safa and Marwa during his ʿUmrah. Sahih Bukhari (1643): The Prophet clarified that performing Tawaf between Safa and Marwa (al-Saʿy) is part of the rites of Hajj and ʿUmrah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers to distinguish between pre-Islamic customs and Islamic religious practices, understanding that an act's previous pagan association does not render it forbidden if Allah has ordained it. It also reminds us that Allah values and rewards sincere effort and voluntary excellence in worship, encouraging us to perform acts of devotion with genuine intention and continuous striving beyond minimum requirements.