2:158 Al-Baqara (The Cow)

يخبر تعالى أن الصفا والمروة وهما معروفان { مِنْ شَعَائِرِ اللَّهِ } أي أعلام دينه الظاهرة, التي تعبد الله بها عباده, وإذا كانا من شعائر الله, فقد أمر الله بتعظيم شعائره فقال: { وَمَنْ يُعَظِّمْ شَعَائِرَ اللَّهِ فَإِنَّهَا مِنْ تَقْوَى الْقُلُوبِ } فدل مجموع النصين أنهما من شعائر الله, وأن تعظيم شعائره, من تقوى القلوب. والتقوى واجبة على كل مكلف, وذلك يدل على أن السعي بهما فرض لازم للحج والعمرة, كما عليه الجمهور, ودلت عليه الأحاديث النبوية وفعله النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم وقال: \" خذوا عني مناسككم \" { فَمَنْ حَجَّ الْبَيْتَ أَوِ اعْتَمَرَ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْهِ أَنْ يَطَّوَّفَ بِهِمَا } هذا دفع لوهم من توهم وتحرج من المسلمين عن الطواف بينهما, لكونهما في الجاهلية تعبد عندهما الأصنام، فنفى تعالى الجناح لدفع هذا الوهم, لا لأنه غير لازم. ودل تقييد نفي الجناح فيمن تطوف بهما في الحج والعمرة, أنه لا يتطوع بالسعي مفردا إلا مع انضمامه لحج أو عمرة، بخلاف الطواف بالبيت, فإنه يشرع مع العمرة والحج, وهو عبادة مفردة. فأما السعي والوقوف بعرفة ومزدلفة, ورمي الجمار فإنها تتبع النسك، فلو فعلت غير تابعة للنسك, كانت بدعة, لأن البدعة نوعان: نوع يتعبد لله بعبادة, لم يشرعها أصلا، ونوع يتعبد له بعبادة قد شرعها على صفة مخصوصة, فتفعل على غير تلك الصفة, وهذا منه. وقوله: { وَمَنْ تَطَوَّعَ } أي: فعل طاعة مخلصا بها لله تعالى { خَيْرًا } من حج وعمرة, وطواف, وصلاة, وصوم وغير ذلك { فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَهُ } فدل هذا, على أنه كلما ازداد العبد من طاعة الله, ازداد خيره وكماله, ودرجته عند الله, لزيادة إيمانه. ودل تقييد التطوع بالخير, أن من تطوع بالبدع, التي لم يشرعها الله ولا رسوله, أنه لا يحصل له إلا العناء, وليس بخير له, بل قد يكون شرا له إن كان متعمدا عالما بعدم مشروعية العمل. { فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ شَاكِرٌ عَلِيمٌ } الشاكر والشكور, من أسماء الله تعالى, الذي يقبل من عباده اليسير من العمل, ويجازيهم عليه, العظيم من الأجر, الذي إذا قام عبده بأوامره, وامتثل طاعته, أعانه على ذلك, وأثنى عليه ومدحه, وجازاه في قلبه نورا وإيمانا, وسعة, وفي بدنه قوة ونشاطا, وفي جميع أحواله زيادة بركة ونماء, وفي أعماله زيادة توفيق. ثم بعد ذلك, يقدم على الثواب الآجل عند ربه كاملا موفرا, لم تنقصه هذه الأمور. ومن شكره لعبده, أن من ترك شيئا لله, أعاضه الله خيرا منه، ومن تقرب منه شبرا, تقرب منه ذراعا, ومن تقرب منه ذراعا, تقرب منه باعا, ومن أتاه يمشي, أتاه هرولة, ومن عامله, ربح عليه أضعافا مضاعفة. ومع أنه شاكر, فهو عليم بمن يستحق الثواب الكامل, بحسب نيته وإيمانه وتقواه, ممن ليس كذلك، عليم بأعمال العباد, فلا يضيعها, بل يجدونها أوفر ما كانت, على حسب نياتهم التي اطلع عليها العليم الحكيم.

قال الإمام أحمد: حدثنا سليمان بن داود الهاشمي أحبرنا إبراهيم بن سعد عن الزهري عن عروة عن عائشة قال: قلت أرأيت قول الله تعالى "إن الصفا والمروة من شعائر الله فمن حج البيت أو اعتمر فلا جناح عليه أن يطوف بهما" قلت فوالله ما على أحد جناح أن لا يتطوف بهما فقالت عائشة: بئسما قلت يا ابن أختي إنها لو كانت على ما أولتها عليه كانت: فلا جناح عليه أن لا يطوف بهما ولكنها إنما أنزلت إن الأنصار كانوا قبل أن يسلموا كانوا يهلون لمناة الطاغية التي كانوا يعبدونها عند المشلل; وكان من أهل لها يتحرج أن يطوف بالصفا والمروة فسألوا عن ذلك رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فقالوا يا رسول الله إنا كنا نتحرج أن نطوف بالصفا والمروة في الجاهلية فأنزل الله عز وجل "إن الصفا والمروة من شعائر الله فمن حج البيت أو اعتمر فلا جناح عليه أن يطوف بهما" قالت عائشة: ثم قد سن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم الطواف بهما فليس لأحد أن يدع الطواف بهما أخرجاه في الصحيحين وفي رواية عن الزهري أنه قال فحدثت بهذا الحديث أبا بكر بن عبدالرحمن بن الحارث بن هشام فقال إن هذا العلم ما كنت سمعته ولقد سمعت رجالا من أهل العلم يقولون إن الناس - إلا من ذكرت عائشة - كانوا يقولون إن طوافنا بين هذين الحجرين من أمر الجاهلية وقال آخرون من الأنصار إنما أمرك بالطواف بالبيت ولم نؤمر بالطواف بين الصفا والمروة فأنزل الله تعالى "إن الصفا والمروة من شعائر الله" قال أبو بكر بن عبدالرحمن فلعلها نزلت في هؤلاء وهؤلاء ورواه البخاري من حديث مالك عن هشام بن عروة عن أبيه عن عائشة بنحو ما تقدم ثم قال البخاري: حدثنا محمد بن يوسف حدثنا سفيان عن عاصم بن سليمان قال: سألت أنسا عن الصفا والمروة؟ قال: كنا نرى أنهما من أمر الجاهلية فلما جاء الإسلام أمسكنا عنهما فأنزل الله عز وجل "إن الصفا والمروة من شعائر الله" وذكر القرطبي في تفسيره عن ابن عباس قال: كانت الشياطين تفرق بين الصفا والمروة الليل كله وكانت بينهما آلهة فلما جاء الإسلام سألوا رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم عن الطواف بينهما فنزلت هذه الآية وقال الشعبي: كان إساف على الصفا وكانت نائلة على المروة وكانوا يستلمونهما فتحرجوا بعد الإسلام من الطواف بينهما فنزلت هذه الآية "قلت" ذكر محمد بن إسحاق في كتاب السيرة أن إسافا ونائلة كانا بشرين فزنيا داخل الكعبة فمسخا حجرين فنصبتهما قريش تجاه الكعبة ليعتبر بهما الناس فلما طال عهدهما عبدا ثم حولا إلى الصفا والمروة فنصبا هنالك فكان من طاف بالصفا والمروة يستلمهما ولهذا يقول أبو طالب في قصيدته المشهورة: حيث ينيخ الأشعرون ركابهـم لمفضى السيول من أساف ونائل وفي صحيح مسلم من حديث جابر الطويل وفيه أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم لما فرغ من طوافه بالبيت عاد إلى الركن فاستلمه ثم خرج من باب الصفا وهو يقول "إن الصفا والمروة من شعائر الله" ثم قال "ابدأ بما بدأ الله به" وفي رواية النسائي "ابدءوا بما بدأ الله به" وقال الإمام أحمد حدثنا شريح حدثنا عبدالله بن المؤمل عن عطاء بن أبي رباح عن صفية بنت شيبة عن حبيبة بنت أبي تجزئة قالت رأيت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يطوف بين الصفا والمروة والناس بين يديه وهو وراءهم وهو يسعى حتى أرى ركبتيه من شدة السعي يدور به إزاره وهو يقول "اسعوا فإن الله كتب عليكم السعي" ثم رواه الإمام أحمد عن عبد الرزاق: أخبرنا معمر عن واصل مولى أبي عيينة عن موسى بن عبيدة عن صفية بنت شيبة أن امرأة أخبرتها أنها سمعت النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم بين الصفا والمروة يقول "كتب عليكم السعي فاسعوا" وقد استدل بهذا الحديث على مذهب من يرى أن السعي بين الصفا والمروة ركن في الحج كما هو مذهب الشافعي ومن وافقه ورواية عن أحمد وهو المشهور عن مالك وقيل إنه واجب وليس بركن فإن تركه عمدا وسهوا جبره بدم وهو رواية عن أحمد وبه يقول طائفة وقيل بل مستحب وإليه ذهب أبو حنيفة والثوري والشعبي وابن سيرين وروي عن أنس وبن عمر وابن عباس وحكي عن مالك في "العتبية" قال القرطبي واحتجوا بقوله تعالى "فمن تطوع خيرا" والقول الأول أرجح لأنه عليه السلام طاف بينهما وقال "لتأخذوا عني مناسككم" فكل ما فعله في حجته تلك واجب لابد من فعله في الحج إلا ما خرج بدليل والله أعلم وقد تقدم قوله عليه السلام "اسعوا فإن الله كتب عليكم السعي" فقد بين الله تعالى أن الطواف بين الصفا والمروة من شعائر الله أي مما شرع الله تعالى لإبراهيم في مناسك الحج وقد تقدم في حديث ابن عباس أن أصل ذلك مأخوذ من طواف هاجر وتردادها بين الصفا والمروة فى طلب الماء لولدها لما نفد ماؤهما وزادهما حين تركهما إبراهيم عليه السلام هنالك وليس عندهما أحد من الناس فلما خافت على ولدها الضيعة هنالك ونفد ما عندهما قامت تطلب الغوث من الله عز وجل فلم تزل تتردد في هذه البقعة المشرفة بين الصفا والمروة متذللة خائفة وجلة مضطرة فقيرة إلى الله عز وجل حتى كشف الله كربتها وآنس غربتها وفرج شدتها وأنبع لها زمزم التي ماؤها "طعام طعم وشفاء سقم" فالساعي بينهما ينبغي له أن يستحضر فقره وذله وحاجته إلى الله في هداية قلبه وصلاح حاله وغفران ذنبه وأن يلتجئ إلى الله عز وجل لتفريج ما هو به من النقائص والعيوب وأن يهديه إلى الصراط المستقيم وأن يثبته عليه إلى مماته وأن يحوله من حاله الذي هو عليه من الذنوب والمعاصي إلى حال الكمال والغفران والسداد والاستقامة كما فعل بهاجر عليها السلام. وقوله "فمن تطوع خيرا" قيل زاد في طوافه بينهما على قدر الواجب ثامنة وتاسعة ونحو ذلك وقيل يطوف بينهما في حجة تطوع أو عمرة تطوع وقيل المراد تطوع خيرا في سائر العبادات حكى ذلك الرازى وعزى الثالث إلى الحسن البصري والله أعلم وقوله "فإن الله شاكر عليم" أي يثيب على القليل بالكثير عليم بقدر الجزاء فلا يبخس أحدا ثوابه "لا يظلم مثقال ذرة وإن تك حسنة يضاعفها ويؤت من لدنه أجرا عظيما".

The Meaning of "it is not a sin" in the Ayah

Imam Ahmad reported that `Urwah said that he asked `A'ishah about what Allah stated:

إِنَّ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةَ مِن شَعَآئِرِ اللَّهِ فَمَنْ حَجَّ الْبَيْتَ أَوِ اعْتَمَرَ فَلاَ جُنَاحَ عَلَيْهِ أَن يَطَّوَّفَ بِهِمَا

(Verily, As-Safa and Al-Marwah (two mountains in Makkah) are of the symbols of Allah. So it is not a sin on him who performs Hajj or `Umrah (pilgrimage) of the House (the Ka`bah at Makkah) to perform the going (Tawaf) between them (As-Safa and Al-Marwah).) "By Allah! It is not a sin if someone did not perform Tawaf around them." `A'ishah said, "Worst is that which you said, O my nephew! If this is the meaning of it, it should have read, `It is not a sin if one did not perform Tawaf around them.' Rather, the Ayah was revealed regarding the Ansar, who before Islam, used to assume Ihlal (or Ihram for Hajj) in the area of Mushallal for their idol Manat that they used to worship. Those who assumed Ihlal for Manat, used to hesitate to perform Tawaf (going) between Mounts As-Safa and Al-Marwah. So they (during the Islamic era) asked Allah's Messenger ﷺ about it, saying, `O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! During the time of Jahiliyyah, we used to hesitate to perform Tawaf between As-Safa and Al-Marwah.' Allah then revealed:

إِنَّ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةَ مِن شَعَآئِرِ اللَّهِ فَمَنْ حَجَّ الْبَيْتَ أَوِ اعْتَمَرَ فَلاَ جُنَاحَ عَلَيْهِ أَن يَطَّوَّفَ بِهِمَا

(Verily, As-Safa and Al-Marwah are of the symbols of Allah. So it is not a sin on him who performs Hajj or `Umrah of the House to perform the going (Tawaf) between them.)" `A'ishah then said, " Allah's Messenger ﷺ has made it the Sunnah to perform Tawaf between them (As-Safa and Al-Marwah), and thus, no one should abandon performing Tawaf between them." This Hadith is reported in the Sahihayn.

In another narration, Imam Az-Zuhri reported that `Urwah said: Later on I (`Urwah) told Abu Bakr bin `Abdur-Rahman bin Al-Harith bin Hisham (of `A'ishah's statement) and he said, "I have not heard of such information. However, I heard learned men saying that all the people, except those whom `A'ishah mentioned, said, `Our Tawaf between these two hills is a practice of Jahiliyyah. ' Some others among the Ansar said, `We were commanded to perform Tawaf of the Ka`bah, but not between As-Safa and Al-Marwah.' So Allah revealed:

إِنَّ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةَ مِن شَعَآئِرِ اللَّهِ

(Verily, As-Safa and Al-Marwah are of the symbols of Allah.)" Abu Bakr bin `Abdur-Rahman then said, "It seems that this verse was revealed concerning the two groups." Al-Bukhari collected a similar narration by Anas.

Ash-Sha`bi said, "Isaf (an idol) was on As-Safa while Na'ilah (an idol) was on Al-Marwah, and they used to touch (or kiss) them. After Islam came, they were hesitant about performing Tawaf between them. Thereafter, the Ayah (2:158 above) was revealed."

The Wisdom behind legislating Sa`i between As-Safa and Al-Marwah

Muslim recorded a long Hadith in his Sahih from Jabir, in which Allah's Messenger ﷺ finished the Tawaf around the House, and then went back to the Rukn (pillar, i.e., the Black Stone) and kissed it. He then went out from the door near As-Safa while reciting:

إِنَّ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةَ مِن شَعَآئِرِ اللَّهِ

(Verily, As-Safa and Al-Marwah are of the symbols of Allah.) The Prophet then said, (I start with what Allah has commanded me to start with meaning start the Sa`i (i.e., fast walking) from the As-Safa). In another narration of An-Nasa'i, the Prophet said, (Start with what Allah has started with (i.e., As-Safa).)

Imam Ahmad reported that Habibah bint Abu Tajrah said, "I saw Allah's Messenger ﷺ performing Tawaf between As-Safa and Al-Marwah, while the people were in front of him and he was behind them walking in Sa`i. I saw his garment twisted around his knees because of the fast walking in Sa`i (he was performing) and he was reciting:

«اسْعَوْا فَإِنَّ اللهَ كَتَبَ عَلَيْكُمُ السَّعْي».

(Perform Sa`i, for Allah has prescribed Sa`i on you.)"'

This Hadith was used as a proof for the fact that Sa`i is a Rukn of Hajj. It was also said that Sa`i is Wajib, and not a Rukn of Hajj and that if one does not perform it by mistake or by intention, he could expiate the shortcoming with Damm. Allah has stated that Tawaf between As-Safa and Al-Marwah is among the symbols of Allah, meaning, among the acts that Allah legislated during the Hajj for Prophet Ibrahim.

Earlier we mentioned the Hadith by Ibn `Abbas that the origin of Tawaf comes from the Tawaf of Hajar (Prophet Ibrahim's wife), between As-Safa and Al-Marwah seeking water for her son (Isma`il) Ibrahim had left them in Makkah, where there was no habitation for her. When Hajar feared that her son would die, she stood up and begged Allah for His help and kept going back and forth in that blessed area between As-Safa and Al-Marwah. She was humble, fearful, frightened and meek before Allah. Allah answered her prayers, relieved her of her loneliness, ended her dilemma and made the well of Zamzam bring forth its water for her, which is:

«طَعَامُ طُعْمٍ،وَشِفَاءُ سُقْم»

(A tasty (or nutritional) food and a remedy for the illness.)

Therefore, whoever performs Sa`i between As-Safa and Al-Marwah should remember his meekness, humbleness and need for Allah to guide his heart, lead his affairs to success and forgive his sins. He should also want Allah to eliminate his shortcomings and errors and to guide him to the straight path. He should ask Allah to keep him firm on this path until he meets death, and to change his situation from that of sin and errors to that of perfection and being forgiven, --- the same providence which was provided to Hajar.

Allah then states:

وَمَن تَطَوَّعَ خَيْرًا

(And whoever does good voluntarily.)

It was said that the Ayah describes performing Tawaf more than seven times, it was also said that it refers to voluntary `Umrah or Hajj. It was also said that it means volunteering to do good works in general, as Ar-Razi has stated. The third opinion was attributed to Al-Hasan Al-Basri. Allah knows best.

Allah states:

فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ شَاكِرٌ عَلِيمٌ

(...then verily, Allah is All-Recognizer, All-Knower.) meaning, Allah's reward is immense for the little deed, and He knows about the sufficiency of the reward. Hence, He will not award insufficient rewards to anyone. Indeed:

إِنَّ اللَّهَ لاَ يَظْلِمُ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ وَإِن تَكُ حَسَنَةً يُضَـعِفْهَا وَيُؤْتِ مِن لَّدُنْهُ أَجْراً عَظِيماً

(Surely, Allah wrongs not even of the weight of an atom, but if there is any good (done), He doubles it, and gives from Him a great reward.) (4:40)

Truly Safā and Marwa two mountains near Mecca are among the waymarks sha‘ā’ir plural of sha‘īra of God the ritual ceremonies of His religion so whoever makes the Pilgrimage to the House or the Visitation that is whoever prepares to perform the Pilgrimage hajj or the Visitation ‘umra the original sense of both terms hajja and i‘tamara is ‘to aim for’ and ‘to visit’ respectively; he would not be at fault it would not be a sin if he circumambulates them the original tā’ of yatatawwafa ‘circumambulate’ has been assimilated with the tā’ by pacing quickly sa‘y between them seven times this was revealed when the Muslims were averse to this circumambulation because the pagan Arabs used to circumambulate them and there was an idol atop each mountain which they used to stroke. It is reported from Ibn ‘Abbās that this pacing between the two is not obligatory based on the fact that when no sin can be incurred the context implies free choice. Al-Shāfi‘ī and others however considered it to be a pillar of the Pilgrimage rituals. The Prophet made clear its obligatory aspect when he said that ‘God has prescribed for you the pacing sa‘y’ as reported by al-Bayhaqī and others; and he the Prophet also said ‘Begin with what God has begun’ meaning al-Safā as reported by Muslim; and whoever volunteers tatawwa‘a a variant reading is yattawa‘ the ta’ here being assimilated good that is any good deed such as circumambulation or other that is not obligatory on him; God is Grateful for such a deed and rewards that person for it Knowing it.

The subject of the Ka'bah کعبہ ، as we would do well to recollect, started all the way back from Verse 124 : 'And when his Lord put Ibrahim to a test', later opening with the statement that the Ka'bah کعبہ was made a place for repeated convergence, a sanctuary, and a centre of divine worship as ordained (Verse 125). Then came the famous prayer of Sayyidna Ibrahim (علیہ السلام) in which he requested Allah Almighty that he and his people be initiated into the correct method of performing the manasik مناسک ، the required rites, or acts of worship (126 - 129); which is inclusive of the Hajj and ` Umrah. We can now see that the centrality of the House of Allah بیت اللہ as the place of worship has been expressed manifestly when it was declared to be the Qiblah قبلہ ، the direction and orientation of all Salah نمازیں ، no matter where it is performed; while at the same time, the importance of the House of Allah was established when it was made the objective in the performance of the Hajj and ` Umrah.

The present verse opens with the solemn declaration that the two hills, Safa صفاء and Marwah مروہ adjoining the Ka'bah کعبہ in Makkah, are tangible signs from Allah. Pilgrims walk briskly between them after they have made the tawaf طواف of the Holy Ka'bah کعبہ . This act of walking briskly or "making rounds" between them, as the Qur'an elects to call it, is known as Sayee سعی a practice which was there even in the Jahiliyyah جاھلیہ and which made Muslims doubt its propriety. It is exactly this doubt Allah Almighty aims to remove here.

So, there it was in the earlier treatment of the subject that Allah Almighty eliminated the objection raised by disbelievers against the instituting of the Ka'bah کعبہ as the Qiblah قبلہ of Muslim Salah نماز and here, through a correlated assertion, the doubt of Muslims themselves as to the propriety of Say in the Hajj and ` Umrah, of which the Ka'bah کعبہ is the desired hub, has been removed.

That the text is closely bound together by this reason is not difficult to see.

Some terms and their meanings

1. The term, Sha a'ir in شعایر اللہ is the plural form of Sha` irah شعیرہ which means a sign, mark or token. So, the شعأیر اللہ "Sha` a'ir of Allah" signify what He has determined to be the marks of Islamic faith.

2. Lexically, Hajj means to aim, to intend; while, in the terminology of the Qur'an and Hadith, the act of deciding to go solely on a pilgrimage of the House of Allah بیت اللہ and performing required rites while there, is called the Hajj.

3. Lexically, ` Umrah means ziyarah زیارہ or pilgrimage; while, in the terminology of the Shari'ah, the visit to al-Masjid al-Haram and the doing of tawaf طواف and Sayee سعی there is called ` Umrah.

Sayee سعی between Safa and Marwah is Obligatory

Details of the method that governs the performance of the Hajj, ` Umrah and Sayee سعی are easily available in books of Fiqh فقہ . It may be noted that Sayee سعی is a mustahabb (desirable or commendable) practice of the Holy Prophet ﷺ according to Imam Ahmad (رح) ; a fard فرض (absolute obligation) according to Imams Malik and Shafi` i رحمۃ اللہ علیہما ; and a wajib واجب (necessity) according to Imam Abu Hanifah (رح) ، which means, one who abandons it would have to slaughter a goat in compensation.

It is advisable to guard against a possible doubt that may arise while reading the words used in the verse under study. One may think that the Qur'an simply says that making Sayee سعی between Safa صفاء and Marwah مروہ is 'no sin'; at the most, it proves that it is one of the many 'allowed' acts. This approach can be corrected by looking at the leading expression لاجُناحَ :'no sin' which has been used here in relation to a question. The question related to all those idols sitting on top of the Safa صفاء and Marwah مروہ hills and it was to show their devotion to them that the people of the Jahiliyyah جاھلیہ used to do say between Safa صفاء and Marwah مروہ ، and in which case, this practice should be haram حرام (forbidden). It is in answer to this doubt that it was declared, "there is no sin" in it. This being the real and authentic Abrahamic Tradition, there is no reason why it should be considered tainted with 'sin'? The 'malpractice' of a pagan band of people in this intervening period does not end up making a 'sin' of what is 'good' in the sight of Allah. The use of the expression 'no sin', therefore, does not go against its being wajib واجب or necessary.

(Lo! (the mountains) As-Safa and Al-Marwah are among the indications of Allah...) [2:158]. Sa�id ibn Muhammad ibn Ahmad al-Zahid informed us> Abu �Ali ibn Abi Bakr al-Faqih> �Abd Allah ibn Muhammad ibn �Abd al-�Aziz> Mus�ab ibn �Abd Allah al-Zubayri> Malik> Hisham> his father> �A�ishah who said: �This verse was revealed about the Helpers. They used to make a pilgrimage to Manat which was close to Qudayd. They also used to avoid going between al-Safa and al-Marwah. When Islam came, they asked Allah�s Messenger, Allah bless him and give him peace, about this, and Allah, exalted is He, revealed this verse�. This is narrated by Bukhari from �Abd Allah ibn Yusuf from Malik. Abu Bakr al-Tamimi informed us> Abu�l-Shaykh al-Hafiz [al-Asfahani]> Abu Yahya al-Razi> Sahl al-�Askari> Yahya and �Abd al-Rahman> Hisham> his father> �A�ishah who said: �This verse was revealed about a group of people from the Helpers. Before Islam, they used to make pilgrimage to Manat and were forbidden from going between al-Safa and al-Marwah. When they went to pilgrimage with Allah�s Messenger, Allah bless him and give him peace, they mentioned this to him. And so Allah revealed this verse�. This is narrated by Muslim from the report of Abu Bakr> Ibn Abi Shaybah> Abu Usamah> Hisham> his father> �A�ishah. Said Anas ibn Malik: �We disliked going in between al-Safa and al-Marwah, because they were the shrines of Quraysh in the pre-Islamic period, and so we abandoned them in Islam. Then Allah revealed this verse�. Said �Umar ibn Hubshi: �I asked Ibn �Umar about this verse and he said: �Go to Ibn �Abbas and ask him�. The latter said: �There was on al-Safa an idol in the form of a man called Isaf, and on al-Marwah an idol in the form of a woman called Na�ilah. The people of the Book claimed that these two had committed adultery in the Ka�bah and as a punishment Allah turned them into two stones which were placed on al-Safa and al-Marwah so that people can take heed. But after a long time had passed, they were worshipped instead of Allah, exalted is He. Whenever the people of the pre-Islamic period went in between them, they stroked the two idols. When Islam came and the idols were destroyed, the Muslims disliked going between al-Safa and al-Marwah because of these two idols.