Safa and Marwa are not just two mountains facing each other next to the Grand Mosque in Mecca.

They are symbols of worship, of monotheism, and of self-sacrifice and Sa’i between them, which the Quran refers to as the Sha’a’ir (rites) of Allah, is a rereading of history.

According to Quran exegeses, Sha’a’ir is the plural of Sha’ira and refer to the signs that are established to perform certain acts of worship. Sha’a’ir Allah are the signs that God has established for His servants. Among them are Safa and Marwa, two mountains that today stand as covered paths near the Grand Mosque, and Hajj pilgrims are commanded to walk the distance between them seven times.

This Sa’i (walking between the two mountains) is a reminder of the dedication and sacrifice of Hagar, the wife of Abraham (AS), who walked this path seven times with anxiety and Tawakkul (trust in God) to find water for her baby, Ishmael, a move that is so sublime from a monotheistic point of view that Imam Sadiq (AS) said there is no better place on earth than the area between these two mountains.

It is because every arrogant person out there has to show their servitude to God, running or walking while wearing a turban, without any sign of conceit.

But in the Age of Ignorance, the face of these rites had been distorted. The Mushrikeen (infidels) had set up two idols named Usaf and Naila on the two mountains and prostrated themselves before them during the Sa’i. This led some Muslims to think that the Sa’i between Safa and Marwa was an ignorant and despicable act. To correct this misconception, the Quran explicitly states:

“Surely the Safa and the Marwa are among the signs appointed by Allah.” (Verse 158 of Surah Al-Baqarah)

This verse not only established the legitimacy and sanctity of these two places, but also showed that in the eyes of the Quran, the signs of worship could not be ignored because of historical contamination. The verses of Allah, even if they are accompanied by idolatry and ignorance, are purified and revived in the light of the revelation and monotheism.

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