Mount Safa & Marwa

[2:158] Surely the Safa and the Marwa are among the signs appointed by Allah; so whoever makes a pilgrimage to the House or pays a visit (to it), there is no blame on him if he goes round them both; and whoever does good spontaneously, then surely Allah is Grateful, Knowing.

After finishing with the tawaf and drinking some Zam-Zam water we went to Mount Safa and Marwa. Muslims who perform the Hajj or Umra must walk/run between the two hills, starting from Mount Safa and ending with Mount Marwa. As we were walking, my eyes were always in search, to get a glimpse of the Kaaba. Those glances of the Kaaba were like nourishment to the soul, filling you with true, sincere, divine love, a love that can not be taken away from you.

While you’re walking between Safa and Marwa, you join the crowd again, and you hear their supplication from all corners, praising Allah in beautiful words. For every step you take, you feel as if the burden of sins that you’ve been carrying throughout your life is being lifted from your back leaving you lighter and lighter
You’re tired and warm. Along the way, they have kept the doors open and as you pass them, as tired and as warm as you are, when the wave of cool air hits you, you feel that the angels are using their wings, blessing you with Allah’s mercy.



I remember when I was there, I kept looking around, worried that my mother or my uncle might get lost or tired. And it reminded me of Sayyida Hagar; I could see her in the distance, worried, constantly searching, moving and struggling, running from one side to the other, in search for water; and those words came to my mind:

أَمَّنْ يُجِيبُ المُضْطَرَّ إِذَا دَعَاهُ وَيَكْشِفُ السُّوءَ

Or who answers the distressed one when he calls upon Him and removes the evil? (27:62)

I remember my mother used to say these words during the war. She would repeat them over and over, no matter how hopeless the situation seemed to be, no matter how close to death we were, we would always be saved. Whenever I hear this ayah, I shiver. There is no dark alley that the Lord can’t save you from and no locked door that he can’t open for you, if only we call out for Him. And just like the Imam sais in Dua Kumail :

Who readily pleased, forgive one who owns nothing but supplication for Thou doest what Thou willest o' Thou! Whose Name is the remedy (for all ills) and Whose remembrance is a sure cure for all ailments and obedience to Whom makes one self sufficient; have mercy on one whose only asset is hope and whose only armour is lamentation

O' Thou! Who perfecteth all bounties and Who wardeth off all misfortunes! O' Light! Who illuminateth those who are in bewilderment! O' Omniscient! Who knoweth without (acquisition of) learning!

There’s truly no one to rely on but Allah. When you remember how Sayyida Hagar never gave up hope, Sayyida Hagar, the wife of Prophet Ibrahim (a.s) who has been abandoned in the burning desert, relied on God alone and has set her hope in Him. A woman - alone, thirsty, desperate but still with strong faith and trust in Allah. She kept praying and running from one side to the other until Allah answered her prayers.

Sayyida Hagar’s act, which is the true devotion to God, made me think of how weak our faith is, not just in the spiritual form but in physical form. In crises we question God's decision and in happy moments we forget to thank Him and instead thank people around us who, in the end, are Allah's servants. We want things to fall down upon us in silver platters, while we say its all in Allah’s hands, not understanding that it's when the servant works hard, it's when he struggles to please Allah, that his prayers are answered and Allah showers him with blessings.

It’s when you stand here in this holy land, that you see how insignificant you are. Like a grain in the sand, you vanish into the crowd, following the wave. But at the same time, you feel great, because God is there. Only God can see your heart and hear your words. You don’t want to talk to anyone around you. You just want to talk to God. You don’t need anyone else.

[50:16] And certainly We created man, and We know what his mind suggests to him, and We are nearer to him than his life-vein.

ps. Pictures that I've posted here aren't mine, but found on the net.