157. The pilgrimage to the Ka'bah along with a set of other rites on certain fixed dates of Dhu al-Hijjah is known as hajj. Pilgrimage at other times is known as 'Umrah.
158. Safa and Marwah are the names of two hillocks near the Holy Mosque in
Makka. To run between these two hillocks was among the rites which God had taught
Abraham in connection with hajj. Later, when Pagan Ignorance prevailed in Makka
and the neighbouring regions, altars were built for Isaf at Safa and for Nai'lah
at Marwah, and people began to circumambulate them. After the advent of the
Prophet, when the light of Islam had spread to the people of Arabia, Muslims
came to doubt whether running between Safa and Marwah was one of the original
rites of Pilgrimage or was merely an invidious religious innovation of the Age
of Ignorance. If it was in fact such, they feared they might be committing an
act of polytheism.
Moreover, we learn from a Tradition transmitted from 'A'ishah that even in pre-Islamic
times the people of Madina were not favourably disposed to this practice. Although
they believed in al-Manat they did not believe in Isaf and Nai'lah. For these
reasons, it was necessary, at the time of the change of the qiblah, to dispel
popular misconceptions about this rite. It seemed necessary to tell people that
running between these two hillocks was part of the original rites of Pilgrimage
and that the sanctity, of Safa and Marwah, far from being an invidious innovation
of the people of the Age of Ignorance, stemmed from the revealed Law of God.
159. It is best that one should perform this ritual obligation with wholehearted devotion. But if devotion is lacking one is not thereby exempt from fulfilling one's obligation. One must perform this ritual if only out of a sense of duty.