سُوْرَةُ البَقَرَةِ
Surah Al-Baqara (2) — Ayah 158
۞ 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﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Verily! As-Safâ and Al-Marwah (two mountains in Makkah) are of the Symbols of Allâh. 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 (Tawâf) between them (As-Safâ and Al-Marwah). And whoever does good voluntarily, then verily, Allâh is All-Recogniser, All-Knower.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
۞ إِنَّ
inna
Indeed
ٱلصَّفَا
l-ṣafā
the Safa
وَٱلْمَرْوَةَ
wal-marwata
and the Marwah
مِن
min
(are) from
شَعَآئِرِ
shaʿāiri
(the) symbols
ٱللَّهِ ۖ
l-lahi
(of) Allah
فَمَنْ
faman
So whoever
حَجَّ
ḥajja
performs Hajj
ٱلْبَيْتَ
l-bayta
(of) the House
أَوِ
awi
or
ٱعْتَمَرَ
iʿ'tamara
performs Umrah
فَلَا
falā
so no
جُنَاحَ
junāḥa
blame
عَلَيْهِ
ʿalayhi
on him
أَن
an
that
يَطَّوَّفَ
yaṭṭawwafa
he walks
بِهِمَا ۚ
bihimā
between [both of] them
وَمَن
waman
And whoever
تَطَوَّعَ
taṭawwaʿa
voluntarily does
خَيْرًۭا
khayran
good
فَإِنَّ
fa-inna
then indeed
ٱللَّهَ
l-laha
Allah
شَاكِرٌ
shākirun
(is) All-Appreciative
عَلِيمٌ
ʿalīmun
All-Knowing
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
158. Indeed, Safa and Marwah are among the symbols of Allah. So whoever performs Hajj to the House or 'Umrah, there is no blame upon him for walking between them [197]. And whoever does good voluntarily—then surely Allah is Appreciative and All-Knowing.
[197] Safa and Marwah are two small mountains near the Ka'bah. Running seven times between them was included in the rites of Hajj, which Allah Almighty had taught to Prophet Ibrahim ؑ. In later times, when idolatrous ignorance spread, the polytheists placed the idols of Isaf on Safa and Na'ilah on Marwah, and circumambulation around them began. This is why a question arose in the hearts of Muslims as to whether Sa'i (running) between Safa and Marwah is among the original rites of Hajj or merely an innovation from the idolatrous era. Thus, through this verse, Allah Almighty removed this misunderstanding of the Muslims and guided them to the correct matter, as is evident from the following hadith. What objection was understood in the circumambulation of Safa and Marwah? Asim bin Sulaiman says that I asked Anas bin Malik ؓ about this verse, and he said that in the early days of Islam, we considered it a custom of ignorance, so we abandoned it. Then this verse was revealed. [بخاري، كتاب التفسير، باب قوله تعالىٰ ان الصفا و المروة]
Also, the people of Madinah considered Sa'i between Safa and Marwah objectionable because they believed in Manat and did not accept Isaf and Na'ilah. Thus, Hisham bin 'Urwah narrates from his father that I asked 'Aishah ؓ, while I was still young, that from Allah Almighty's saying, "Indeed, Safa and Marwah..." it seems that if someone does not perform the circumambulation of Safa and Marwah, there is no harm. 'Aishah ؓ replied: That is not the meaning. If that were the meaning, Allah Almighty would have said, "If he does not perform their circumambulation, there is no sin." This verse was revealed concerning the Ansar. In the state of Ihram, they used to call upon the name of Manat, and this idol was installed at the place of Qudayd. The Ansar (for this reason) considered the circumambulation of Safa and Marwah objectionable. When they embraced Islam, they asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ about it, then this verse was revealed. [ بخاري، كتاب التفسير زير آيت مذكور]
[197] Safa and Marwah are two small mountains near the Ka'bah. Running seven times between them was included in the rites of Hajj, which Allah Almighty had taught to Prophet Ibrahim ؑ. In later times, when idolatrous ignorance spread, the polytheists placed the idols of Isaf on Safa and Na'ilah on Marwah, and circumambulation around them began. This is why a question arose in the hearts of Muslims as to whether Sa'i (running) between Safa and Marwah is among the original rites of Hajj or merely an innovation from the idolatrous era. Thus, through this verse, Allah Almighty removed this misunderstanding of the Muslims and guided them to the correct matter, as is evident from the following hadith. What objection was understood in the circumambulation of Safa and Marwah? Asim bin Sulaiman says that I asked Anas bin Malik ؓ about this verse, and he said that in the early days of Islam, we considered it a custom of ignorance, so we abandoned it. Then this verse was revealed. [بخاري، كتاب التفسير، باب قوله تعالىٰ ان الصفا و المروة]
Also, the people of Madinah considered Sa'i between Safa and Marwah objectionable because they believed in Manat and did not accept Isaf and Na'ilah. Thus, Hisham bin 'Urwah narrates from his father that I asked 'Aishah ؓ, while I was still young, that from Allah Almighty's saying, "Indeed, Safa and Marwah..." it seems that if someone does not perform the circumambulation of Safa and Marwah, there is no harm. 'Aishah ؓ replied: That is not the meaning. If that were the meaning, Allah Almighty would have said, "If he does not perform their circumambulation, there is no sin." This verse was revealed concerning the Ansar. In the state of Ihram, they used to call upon the name of Manat, and this idol was installed at the place of Qudayd. The Ansar (for this reason) considered the circumambulation of Safa and Marwah objectionable. When they embraced Islam, they asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ about it, then this verse was revealed. [ بخاري، كتاب التفسير زير آيت مذكور]
