While I was a youngster, I asked `Aisha the wife of the Prophet. "What about the meaning of the Statement of Allah; "Verily! (the mountains) As-Safa and Al Marwa, are among the symbols of Allah. So, it is not harmful if those who perform Hajj or `Umra of the House (Ka`ba at Mecca) to perform the going (Tawaf) between them? (2.158) I understand (from that) that there is no harm if somebody does not perform the Tawaf between them." `Aisha replied, "No, for if it were as you are saying, then the recitation would have been like this: 'It is not harmful not to perform Tawaf between them.' This verse was revealed in connection with the Ansar who used to assume the Ihram for the idol Manat which was put beside a place called Qudaid and those people thought it not right to perform the Tawaf of As- Safa and Al-Marwa. When Islam came, they asked Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) about that, and Allah revealed:-- "Verily! (the mountains) As-Safa and Al-Marwa Are among the symbols of Allah. So, it is not harmful of those who perform Hajj or `Umra of the House (Ka`ba at Mecca) to perform the going (Tawaf) between them." (2.158) Sufyan and Abu Muawiya added from Hisham (from `Aisha): "The Hajj or `Umra of the person who does not perform the going (Tawaf) between As-Safa and Al-Marwa is incomplete in Allah's sight.
Contextual Revelation of the Verse
This narration from Sahih al-Bukhari 1790 clarifies the circumstances surrounding the revelation of Quran 2:158 concerning Sa'i between Safa and Marwa. The Ansar, prior to Islam, would avoid this ritual due to their association of these hills with pre-Islamic idols near Manat at Qudaid.
After embracing Islam, they questioned the permissibility of this practice, leading to the divine clarification that these are indeed among Allah's symbols and performing Tawaf between them is not only permissible but obligatory.
Linguistic Analysis of the Verse
Lady Aisha's response demonstrates profound understanding of Quranic exegesis. She explains that the verse's construction "fa la junaha 'alayhi" indicates no sin in performing Sa'i, rather than permitting its omission.
Had the intention been to make it optional, the phrasing would have been "fa la junaha an la yatuffa bihima" (there is no sin in not performing Tawaf between them). This precise linguistic analysis confirms the obligation of Sa'i.
Legal Ruling on Sa'i
The concluding statement transmitted through Sufyan and Abu Muawiya establishes the definitive ruling: Hajj or Umrah remains incomplete without performing Sa'i between Safa and Marwa.
This constitutes one of the essential pillars (arkan) of both Hajj and Umrah, without which the pilgrimage is invalid according to the consensus of classical scholars.
Scholarly Significance
This narration exemplifies how the Prophet's companions resolved legal questions through direct reference to divine revelation, establishing the methodology of deriving Islamic law from primary sources.
It also demonstrates the importance of understanding the historical context (asbab al-nuzul) for proper interpretation of Quranic verses and their legal implications.