Standing at al-Safa’ and Prayers

“Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that when the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, completed his Tawaf and two Rak‘at salat (prayer) he said this, ‘I begin with the same thing with which Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, has begun. He has said, ‘Al-Safa’ and al-Marwah are of the reminders of Allah.’ (2:158) Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘You then should go out to al-Safa’ through the door by which the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, had gone. (That is the door, which is opposite the Black Stone), you should pass the valley in a calm and dignified manner. Climb al- Safa’, so you can look at the House facing the corner that has the Black Stone; you should thank Allah and praise Him. Then remind yourself of His bounties, tests and the good things that He has done for you as much as you can. Then say Takbir (Allah is great beyond description) seven times. Say Tahmid (all praise belongs to Allah) seven times, Tahlil (no one deserves worship except Allah) seven times and then say, “No one other than Allah, who is One and has no partners, deserves worship. To Him belong the Kingdom and all praise. He gives life and causes things to die. He is living, never dies and has power over all things”- three times. Then say, “O Allah, grant salawat (favors and compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause).” Then say, “Allah is great beyond description because of His granting us guidance. All praise belongs to Allah because of His granting us priorities. All praise belongs to Allah, the Living and Dominant. All praise belongs to Allah, the Living the Eternal”- three times. Then say, “I testify that no one other than Allah deserves worship. I testify that Muhammad (SAW), is His servant and Messenger. We do not worship anything besides Him. We have sincerely accepted His religion even though the pagans dislike it”- three times. Then say, “O Allah, I appeal before You for forgiveness, good health and certainty in this life and in the next life”- three times. Then say, “O Lord, grant us goodness in this world as well as in the next life and protect us against the hellfire”- three times. Then say, “Takbir (Allah is great beyond description), one hundred times, Tahlil (no one deserves worship except Allah), one hundred times, Tahmid (all praise belongs to Allah), one hundred times and Tasbih, (Allah is free of all defects), one hundred times.” Then say, “No one other than Allah, who is One, deserves worship. He makes His promise to come true, supports His servant, dominates all parties all by Himself alone, thus the kingdom is His and all praise belongs to Him alone. O Allah, make death a blessing for me as well as what is after death. O Allah, I seek protection against the darkness of the grave and its frightening condition. O Allah, provide for me a shadow under the shadow of Your Throne on the day when there is no shadow except Your shadow.” Entrust your religion with the Lord very often, as well as yourself and family. Then say, “I entrust Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful who does not allow what He is entrusted with to become lost. I entrust Him with my life, my religion and family. O Allah, make me useful in the service of Your book and the tradition of Your Prophet. Make me die in Your religion and protect me against mischief.” Then say Takbir (Allah is great beyond description), three times. Then say it twice and then once. Then repeat it all over again. If you cannot do so, do it only partially.’ Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, would keep praying at al-Safa’ for as long as one can complete reading all of Chapter two of the Holy Quran.’”

“Jamil narrated to me saying, ‘I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), “Is there a prayer of a particular timing that I should say at al-Safa’ and al-Marwah?” He (the Imam) replied, say, “No one other than Allah, who is One and has no partners, deserves worship. To Him belong the kingdom and all praise. He gives life and causes things to die and has power over all things - three times.’””

“I asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), ‘What should a man say on al-Safa’ and al-Marwah?’ He (the Imam) replied, ‘He should say, ‘No one except Allah who is One and has no partners, deserves worship. To Him belong the Kingdom and all praise. He gives life and causes death and He has power over all things’ - three times.’”

“I asked abu Ibrahim (a.s.), about the door of al-Safa’ saying, ‘Our people have differences about it. Certain ones among them say, “It is in front of the water fountain and others say that it is in front of the Black Stone.’” He (the Imam) said, ‘It is the one which is in front of the water fountain. Dawud initiated it and Dawud was the one who opened it.’”

“’Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), when climbing on al-Safa’, would face the Ka‘bah, raise his hands and then say, ‘O Allah, forgive my every sin that I have committed. If I will return to sin, return to me with forgiveness, You are Forgiving and Merciful. O Allah, do for me what is worthy of You to do for me; if You do for me what is worthy of You to do for me, You will have mercy on me; but if You punish me, You do not need to do so. I however, need Your mercy. O the One whose mercy I need, grant me kindness and mercy. O Allah, do not do to me what is worthy of me; if You do for me what is worthy of me, You will punish me and in doing so You will not be doing any injustice to me. I am anxious of Your justice but I am not afraid of Your injustice. So, O the One who is just and never does injustice to anyone, be kind and merciful to me.’”

“One who wants his wealth to increase should stay on al-Safa’ and al-Marwah for a long time.”

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘There is no definite act of worship to perform on al-Safa’.’”

“I once saw abu al-Hassan (a.s.), climb al-Marwah and lean himself against the rock which is on top on the pathway and face al-Ka‘bah.”(Ahadith 7-8 of this Chapter are best explained in the form of fatwa).

“I was following abu al-Hassan, Musa (a.s.), when climbing al-Safa’ and al-Marwah, and he did not say anything more than two words, ‘O Allah, I appeal before You to grant me optimism about You in all conditions and true intention to place my trust with You.’”