Al-Hajj Al-Mabroor

He made us perform Sa‘y between As-Safâ and Al-Marwah to
remind us of the story of Hâjar (may Allah be pleased with her)
and her son Ismâ‘îl (Ishmael, peace be upon him), when Ibrâhîm
(Abraham, peace be upon him) brought them to this place wherein
there is neither plant, nor water, nor any means of survival.
In this place bare of survival means, Ibrâhîm (peace be upon him)
left his wife and his infant son to direct our attention to a principle
governing this universe. When Ibrâhîm hurried back Hâjar (may
Allah be pleased with her) laid hold of the reins of his riding
animal and said, ‘To whom are you leaving us?’ but Ibrâhîm did
not answer back. Then Hâjar said, ‘Allah ordered you so?’ and he
beckoned to her affirmatively, so she said, ‘Then He will never
leave us be lost.’
That is the first principle of faith: if Allah settled you in a place, He
will never let you be lost, however powerless are all causes and
means to offer you anything.
What did Hâjar do? She submitted to the Decree of Allah and
contented herself with it. Then what happened? Her baby thirsted
and she wanted to water him. She must adopt means and look for
a spring, or a well, or a walking caravan that has water. She must
exert utmost effort and ascends Al-Marwah knoll to get a better
view of her surroundings, perhaps she might find a tree, or a bird,
or some people. Hâjar hurried to As-Safâ knoll but she neither
found water nor a trace of life, so she returned again to Al-Marwah
knoll but she found nothing. Then she returned to As-Safâ then to
Al-Marwah and she kept running between them until she repeated
the act seven times, but she found nothing. Her runs between As-
Safâ and Al-Marwah were the utmost effort she could exert and she
could do no more, so she sat beside her infant after her own means
ran out, but behold the little infant’s leg struck the ground and
water gushed forth!!
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