While I was a youngster, I asked ʿAisha 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 ʿUmra of the House (Kaʿba 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." ʿAisha 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 Messenger of Allah 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 ʿUmra of the House (Kaʿba at Mecca) to perform the going (Tawaf) between them." (2.158) Sufyan and Abu Muawiya added from Hisham (from ʿAisha): "The Hajj or ʿUmra of the person who does not perform the going (Tawaf) between As-Safa and Al-Marwa is incomplete in Allah's sight.  

أَنَّهُ قَالَ قُلْتُ لِعَائِشَةَ ؓ زَوْجِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ وَأَنَا يَوْمَئِذٍ حَدِيثُ السِّنِّ أَرَأَيْتِ قَوْلَ اللَّهِ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى {إِنَّ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةَ مِنْ شَعَائِرِ اللَّهِ فَمَنْ حَجَّ الْبَيْتَ أَوِ اعْتَمَرَ فَلاَ جُنَاحَ عَلَيْهِ أَنْ يَطَّوَّفَ بِهِمَا} فَلاَ أُرَى عَلَى أَحَدٍ شَيْئًا أَنْ لاَ يَطَّوَّفَ بِهِمَا فَقَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ كَلاَّ لَوْ كَانَتْ كَمَا تَقُولُ كَانَتْ فَلاَ جُنَاحَ عَلَيْهِ أَنْ لاَ يَطَّوَّفَ بِهِمَا إِنَّمَا أُنْزِلَتْ هَذِهِ الآيَةُ فِي الأَنْصَارِ كَانُوا يُهِلُّونَ لِمَنَاةَ وَكَانَتْ مَنَاةُ حَذْوَ قُدَيْدٍ وَكَانُوا يَتَحَرَّجُونَ أَنْ يَطُوفُوا بَيْنَ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةِ فَلَمَّا جَاءَ الإِسْلاَمُ سَأَلُوا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ عَنْ ذَلِكَ فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى {إِنَّ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةَ مِنْ شَعَائِرِ اللَّهِ فَمَنْ حَجَّ الْبَيْتَ أَوِ اعْتَمَرَ فَلاَ جُنَاحَ عَلَيْهِ أَنْ يَطَّوَّفَ بِهِمَا} زَادَ سُفْيَانُ وَأَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ عَنْ هِشَامٍ مَا أَتَمَّ اللَّهُ حَجَّ امْرِئٍ وَلاَ عُمْرَتَهُ لَمْ يَطُفْ بَيْنَ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةِ  

I said to 'A'isha: I do not see any harm to me if I do not circumambulate betweez al-Safa' and al-Marwa. She said: On what ground do you say so? (I said: ) Since Allah, the Exalted and Majestic, says:" Verily al-Safa' and al-Marwa are among the Signs of Allah." It (your assertion) were (correct), it would have been said like this:" There is no harm for him, that he should not circumambulate between them." It (this verse) has been revealed about the people of Ansar. Whenever they pronounced the Talbiya, they pronounced it in the name of al-Manat during the Days of Ignorance; so they (thought) that it was not permissible for them (for the Muslims) to circumambulate between and al-Marwa. When they (the Muslims) came with Allah's Apostle (may peace he upon him) for Hajj, they mentioned it to him. So Allah, the Exalted and Majestic, revealed this verse. By my life, Allah will not complete the Hajj of one who has not circumambulated between al-Safa and al-Marwa.  

قُلْتُ لِعَائِشَةَ مَا أَرَى عَلَىَّ جُنَاحًا أَنْ لاَ أَتَطَوَّفَ بَيْنَ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةِ قَالَتْ لِمَ قُلْتُ لأَنَّ اللَّهَ ﷻ يَقُولُ { إِنَّ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةَ مِنْ شَعَائِرِ اللَّهِ} الآيَةَ فَقَالَتْ لَوْ كَانَ كَمَا تَقُولُ لَكَانَ فَلاَ جُنَاحَ عَلَيْهِ أَنْ لاَ يَطَّوَّفَ بِهِمَا إِنَّمَا أُنْزِلَ هَذَا فِي أُنَاسٍ مِنَ الأَنْصَارِ كَانُوا إِذَا أَهَلُّوا أَهَلُّوا لِمَنَاةَ فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ فَلاَ يَحِلُّ لَهُمْ أَنْ يَطَّوَّفُوا بَيْنَ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةِ فَلَمَّا قَدِمُوا مَعَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ لِلْحَجِّ ذَكَرُوا ذَلِكَ لَهُ فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى هَذِهِ الآيَةَ فَلَعَمْرِي مَا أَتَمَّ اللَّهُ حَجَّ مَنْ لَمْ يَطُفْ بَيْنَ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةِ  

“My father told me: ‘I said to ‘Aishah: “I do not think there is any sin on me if I do not perform Tawaf* between Safa and Marwah.” She said: “Allah says: ‘Verily, Safa and 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 Tawaf between them.’” [2:158] If the matter were as you say, then it would have said, ‘it is not a sin on him to not perform the Sa’y between them.’ Rather this was revealed concerning some people among the Ansar who previously, when they stated the Talbiyah, they used to recite it for Manat, and it was not lawful for them to perform Sa’y between Safa and Marwah. When they arrived with the Prophet ﷺ for Hajj, they mentioned that to him, and Allah revealed this Verse. By Allah, Allah will not accept the Hajj as complete if one who does not perform Sa’y between Safa and Marwah.’”  

قُلْتُ لِعَائِشَةَ مَا أَرَى عَلَىَّ جُنَاحًا أَنْ لاَ أَطَّوَّفَ بَيْنَ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةِ قَالَتْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَقُولُ {إِنَّ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةَ مِنْ شَعَائِرِ اللَّهِ فَمَنْ حَجَّ الْبَيْتَ أَوِ اعْتَمَرَ فَلاَ جُنَاحَ عَلَيْهِ أَنْ يَطَّوَّفَ بِهِمَا} وَلَوْ كَانَ كَمَا تَقُولُ لَكَانَ فَلاَ جُنَاحَ عَلَيْهِ أَنْ لاَ يَطَّوَّفَ بِهِمَا إِنَّمَا أُنْزِلَ هَذَا فِي نَاسٍ مِنَ الأَنْصَارِ كَانُوا إِذَا أَهَلُّوا أَهَلُّوا لِمَنَاةَ فَلاَ يَحِلُّ لَهُمْ أَنْ يَطَّوَّفُوا بَيْنَ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةِ فَلَمَّا قَدِمُوا مَعَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فِي الْحَجِّ ذَكَرُوا ذَلِكَ لَهُ فَأَنْزَلَهَا اللَّهُ فَلَعَمْرِي مَا أَتَمَّ اللَّهُ ﷻ حَجَّ مَنْ لَمْ يَطُفْ بَيْنَ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةِ  

"I asked Aishah about the words of Allah, the Mighty and Sublime: 'So it sin not a sin on him who perform Hajj or Umrah (Pilgrimage) of the House (the Kabah at Makkah) to perform the going (Tawaf) between them (as-Safa and Al-Marwah) and (I said): 'By Allah, there is no sin on anyone if he does not go between As-Safa and Al-Marwa.' Aishah said: 'What a bad thing you said, O son of my brother! If this Ayah was as you have interpreted it, there would be no sin on a person if he did not go between them. But it was revealed concering the Ansar. Before they accepted Islam, they sued to enter Ihram for the false goddess Manat whom they used to worship at Al-Mushallal. Whoever enter Ihram for her would refrain from going between As-Safa and Al-Marwah. When they asked the Messenger of Allah about that, Allah, the Might and Sublime, revealed: '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 Urmrah (Pilgrimage) of the House (the Kabah at Makkah) to perform the going (Tawaf) between them (As-Safa and Al-Marwah). Then the Messenger of Allah enjoined going between them so no one has the right to refrain from going between them.'" (Using translation from Nasāʾī 2968)   

قُلْتُ أَرَأَيْتِ قَوْلَ اللهِ ﷻ {إِنَّ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةَ مِنْ شَعَائِرِ اللهِ فَمَنْ حَجَّ الْبَيْتَ أَوْ اعْتَمَرَ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْهِ أَنْ يَطَّوَّفَ بِهِمَا} [البقرة 158] قَالَ فَقُلْتُ فَوَاللهِ مَا عَلَى أَحَدٍ جُنَاحٌ أَنْ لَا يَتَطَوَّفَ بِهِمَا قَالَ فَقَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ بِئْسَمَا قُلْتَ يَا ابْنَ أُخْتِي إِنَّهَا لَوْ كَانَتْ عَلَى مَا أَوَّلْتَهَا عَلَيْهِ كَانَتْ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْهِ أَنْ لَا يَطَّوَّفَ بِهِمَا وَلَكِنَّهَا إِنَّمَا أُنْزِلَتْ أَنَّ الْأَنْصَارَ كَانُوا قَبْلَ أَنْ يُسْلِمُوا يُهِلُّونَ لِمَنَاةَ الطَّاغِيَةِ الَّتِي كَانُوا يَعْبُدُونَ عِنْدَ الْمُشَلَّلِ وَكَانَ مَنْ أَهَلَّ لَهَا تَحَرَّجَ أَنْ يَطَّوَّفَ بِالصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةِ فَسَأَلُوا عَنْ ذَلِكَ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ فَقَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ إِنَّا كُنَّا نَتَحَرَّجُ أَنْ نَطَّوَّفَ بِالصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةِ فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ فَأَنْزَلَ اللهُ ﷻ {إِنَّ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةَ مِنْ شَعَائِرِ اللهِ} [البقرة 158] إِلَى قَوْلِهِ {فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْهِ أَنْ يَطَّوَّفَ بِهِمَا} [البقرة 158] قَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ ثُمَّ قَدْ سَنَّ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ الطَّوَافَ بِهِمَا فَلَيْسَ يَنْبَغِي لِأَحَدٍ أَنْ يَدَعَ الطَّوَافَ بِهِمَا  

‘Urwa bin Al Zubair said I said to A’ishah, wife of the Prophet ﷺ while I was a boy. What do you think about the pronouncement of Allaah, the Exalted “Lo! (The Mountains) Al Safa’ and Al Marwah are among the indications of Allaah. “I think there is no harm for anyone if he does not run between them. A’ishah(may Allah be pleased with her) said Nay, had it been so as you said, it would have been thus. It is no sin on him not to go around them. This verse was revealed about the Ansaar, they used to perform hajj for Manat. Manat was erected in front of Qudaid. Hence they used to avoid going around Al Safa and Al Marwah. When Islam came, they asked the Apostle of Allaah ﷺ about it. Allaah, the Exalted therefore revealed the verse “Lo! (The Mountains) Al Safa’ and Al Marwah are among the indications of Allaah. (Using translation from Abū Dāʾūd 1901)   

لِعَائِشَةَ ؓ وَأَنَا يَوْمَئِذٍ حَدِيثُ السِّنِّ أَرَأَيْتِ قَوْلَ اللهِ ﷻ {إنَّ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةَ مِنْ شَعَائِرِ اللهِ فَمَنْ حَجَّ الْبَيْتَ أَوِ اعْتَمَرَ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْهِ أَنْ يَطَّوَّفَ بِهِمَا} [البقرة 158]؟ فَمَا أَرَى عَلَى أَحَدٍ شَيْئًا أَنْ لَا يَطُوفَ بِهِمَا قَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ كَلَّا لَوْ كَانَتْ كَمَا تَقُولُ كَانَتْ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْهِ أَنْ لَا يَطَّوَّفَ إِنَّمَا أُنْزِلَتْ هَذِهِ الْآيَةُ فِي الْأَنْصَارِ وَكَانُوا يُهِلُّونَ لِمَنَاةَ وَكَانَ مَنَاةُ حَذْوَ قُدَيْدٍ وَكَانُوا يَتَحَرَّجُونَ أَنْ يَطُوفُوا بَيْنَ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةِ فَلَمَّا جَاءَ الْإِسْلَامُ سَأَلُوا رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ عَنْ ذَلِكَ فَأَنْزَلَ اللهُ ﷻ {إنَّ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةَ مِنْ شَعَائِرِ اللهِ} [البقرة 158] الْآيَةَ  

[Machine] And why? I said, "Indeed, Allah says: 'Indeed, Safa and Marwa are among the symbols of Allah. So whoever makes Hajj to the House or performs 'umrah - there is no blame upon him for walking between them.' " [Al-Baqarah 158] She said, "O nephew of mine, if it were as you say, then there would be no blame upon him for not walking between them. Allah perfected the Hajj of a man and his 'umrah when he does not walk between Safa and Marwa. Do you know the reason for that? The Ansar used to circumambulate around an idol on the shore of the sea during the time of Jahiliyyah (pre-Islamic era), then they would come and perform the Sa'i between Safa and Marwa, and then shave their heads. When Islam came, they disliked to perform the Sa'i between them, because of what they used to do between them during the time of Jahiliyyah. So Allah revealed: 'Indeed, Safa and Marwa are among the symbols of Allah. So whoever makes Hajj to the House or performs 'umrah - there is no blame upon him for walking between them. And whoever does good voluntarily - then indeed, Allah is appreciative and Knowing.' " [Al-Baqarah 158] So the people returned and performed the Sa'i.  

وَلِمَ؟ قُلْتُ إِنَّ اللهَ ﷻ يَقُولُ {إنَّ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةَ مِنْ شَعَائِرِ اللهِ فَمَنْ حَجَّ الْبَيْتَ أَوِ اعْتَمَرَ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْهِ أَنْ يَطَّوَّفَ بِهِمَا} [البقرة 158] قَالَتْ يَا ابْنَ أُخْتِي لَوْ كَانَتْ كَمَا تَقُولُ لَكَانَ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْهِ أَنْ لَا يَطَّوَّفَ بِهِمَا مَا أَتَمَّ اللهُ حَجَّ امْرِئٍ وَلَا عُمْرَتَهُ لَمْ يَطُفْ بَيْنَ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةِ أَتَدْرِي فِيمَا كَانَ ذَلِكَ؟ كَانَتِ الْأَنْصَارُ يُهِلُّونَ فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ لِصَنَمٍ عَلَى شَاطِئِ الْبَحْرِ ثُمَّ يَجِيئُونَ فَيَطُوفُونَ بَيْنَ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةِ فَيَحْلِقُونَ فَلَمَّا جَاءَ الْإِسْلَامُ كَرِهُوا أَنْ يَطُوفُوا بَيْنَهُمَا؛ لِلَّذِي كَانُوا يَصْنَعُونَ بَيْنَهُمَا فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ فَأَنْزَلَ اللهُ ﷻ {إنَّ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةَ مِنْ شَعَائِرِ اللهِ فَمَنْ حَجَّ الْبَيْتَ أَوِ اعْتَمَرَ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْهِ أَنْ يَطَّوَّفَ بِهِمَا وَمَنْ تَطَوَّعَ خَيْرًا فَإِنَّ اللهَ شَاكِرٌ عَلِيمٌ} [البقرة 158] فَعَادَ النَّاسُ فَطَافُوا