Sa‘y Between al-Safa’ and al-Marwah and the Prayers to Say

“About Sa‘y (walking faster like running slowly) between al-Safa’ and al-Marwah, I once asked abu al-Hassan (a.s.). He (the Imam) said, ‘When you reach the first house on your right side in the beginning of the valley, then walk faster like running slowly until the beginning of the lanes on your right side, then stop Sa‘y (walking faster like running slowly) after you pass the valley toward al- Marwah. When you reach it stop walking fast and walk normally. When you are coming back from al- Marwah then in the beginning of the lanes which I mentioned begin Sa‘y (walking faster like running slowly) and when you arrive at the door from the side of al-Safa’ after passing the valley then stop Sa‘y (walking faster like running slowly) and walk normally. Sa‘y (walking faster like running slowly) is for men only. Sa‘y in such manner is not for women.”’

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘My father (a.s.), would perform Sa‘y (walking faster like running slowly) between al-Safa’ and al-Marwah between the door of ibn ‘Abbad up to where he stepped over the drain of the valley before the lane of Ale abu Husayn.’” (Ahadith 1-2 of this Chapter are best explained in the form of fatwa).

“I heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), say, ‘No piece of land is more beloved to Allah than the area for walking (between al-Safa’ and al-Marwah); because it humbles every tyrant.’ It is narrated that he was asked, ‘Why was al-Sa‘y made to be?‘, so he said, ‘To humbles the tyrants.’”

“He (the Imam) has said, ‘No act of Hajj is more beloved to Allah than ‘Sa‘y’ because it humbles the tyrants.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that Sa‘y (walking) between al-Safa’ and al-Marwah is made to humble the tyrants.”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that climb down from al-Safa’, walking to al-Marwah in a calm and dignified manner up to the sign; then walk faster and say, ‘I begin by the help of the name of Allah, Allah is great beyond description. O Allah, I appeal before You to grant salawat (favors and compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause). O Allah, forgive me, be kind and merciful to me and ignore what You know (about me) and You are majestic and honorable.’ Then walk until you reach the other sign. When you pass this sign say, ‘O munificent, generous, honorable, bountiful and benevolent, forgive my sins; no one is able to forgive sins except You.’ Then walk in a calm and dignified manner until you reach al-Marwah. Climb up until you can see the House, then do what you had done at al-Safa’, then walk between them seven times beginning from al-Safa’ to end at al-Marwah.’”

“I saw abu al-Hassan (a.s.), perform Sa‘y (walking faster like running slowly) from the house of al-Qadiy al-Makhzumiy.’ He has said that he (the Imam) continued until he reached the lane of al-‘Attarin (perfume sellers).”’

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the Sa‘y between al-Safa’ and al-Marwah if it is obligatory or Sunnah. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is obligatory.’ I then asked, ‘What is the meaning of the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, ‘. . . then it is not harmful for him to perform Tawaf of them.’ (2:158). He (the Imam) said, ‘This was in al-‘Umrah of al-Qada’ when the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, set a condition on them to remove the idols from al-Safa’ and al-Marwah that distracted people from performing Sa‘y (walking faster like running slowly). Days passed and idols were brought back, and they came to the Messenger of Allah saying, ‘So and so did not perform Sa‘y (walking faster like running slowly) and the idols are brought back.’ Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, revealed, ‘. . . it is not harmful to perform Tawaf between al-Safa’ and al-Marwah,’ that is, even though there are idols on them.’” (Ahadith 7-8 of this Chapter are best explained in the form of fatwa)

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who did not walk faster between the two signs during Sa‘y of al-Safa’ and al-Marwah. He (the Imam) replied, ‘It is not necessary for him to do anything.’ It is narrated that the area of “al-Mas‘a (the area for Sa‘y)’” was greater than it is today. People have reduced this area.’”

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who intentionally does not perform Sa‘y between al-Safa’ and al-Marwah. He (the Imam) said, ‘He owes al-Hajj in future.’” (Hadith 10 of this and the following Chapters are best explained in the form of fatwa).