In this verse, the talk is about some rites related to Hajj and Ummrah. As-Safa as well as the Marwah are two mountains near the glorious Ka’bah. Everyone who makes Hajj or Ummrah has to run between these two mountains. These rituals of Hajj and Ummrah are related to the story of Hajar the mother of Ismail (PBUH). So, what is the relation between a previous verse which says:

{ فَاذْكُرُونِي أَذْكُرْكُمْ وَاشْكُرُوا لِي وَلَا تَكْفُرُونِ }

(So remember Me; I will remember you. And be grateful to Me and do not deny Me.)  (Al-Baqraa: 152)

and this verse?

The verses started with remembering Allah (swt) and seeking His help. Then it seems as if this speech stopped totally, and moved to the rites of the Hajj. Yet, in the Holy Qur’an, there is no abruption, but we have to raise ourselves up to the level of the Holy Qur’an’s bestowments.

Al-Safa and Al-Marrroah are tow mountains, and the story of running between them is of Hagar, the wife of the Prophet Ibrahim (PBUH), who brought her to Makkah with her infant son. And when Ibrahim (PBUH) left her, he said:

 {رَّبَّنَا إِنِّي أَسْكَنتُ مِن ذُرِّيَّتِي بِوَادٍ غَيْرِ ذِي زَرْعٍ عِندَ بَيْتِكَ الْمُحَرَّمِ رَبَّنَا لِيُقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ فَاجْعَلْ أَفْئِدَةً مِّنَ النَّاسِ تَهْوِي إِلَيْهِمْ وَارْزُقْهُم مِّنَ الثَّمَرَاتِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَشْكُرُونَ }

(Our Lord, I have settled some of my descendants in an uncultivated valley near Your sacred House, our Lord, that they may establish prayer. So make hearts among the people incline toward them and provide for them from the fruits that they might be grateful.)  (Ibrahim: 37)

He (PBUH) left Hajar with her infant Ismail in the valley, which has neither plants nor water. Sayyidah Hajar called him: “Under whose care do you leave us?” He (PBUH) said to her, “Allah has commanded me to do that.” She said: “So Allah (swt) won’t abandon us since He commanded you to leave us here.”

After a while, they suffered thirsty in this valley where there were no water nor plants. The infant started crying and the mother is thirsty after she had run out of water. Therefore, she moved from the valley up to the mountain of Al-Safa, to look for a caravan nearby that would carry water with them or to see a bird that may guide her to the water. She continued to run back and forth between the two mountains, Al-Safa and Al-Marrwah, for seven times looking for water for her infant Isma’l (PBUH) and herself and when she did not find it, she returned to her infant. However, the water dashed beneath the feet of Ismail (PBUH). Therefore, it was as she believed that Allah (swt) will not let her infant and herself be lost. Allah (swt) willed to give a lesson to humanity: You have to work and rely on the causer.

There is a difference between Tawakul and Tawaakul. Tawaakul is the laziness of the senses and leaving the reasons under the pretext of Tawakul. Whereas Tawakul is the working of senses along with the hearts depend on Allah (swt).

Sayyidah Hajar trusted Allah (swt) and strived, therefore her act of searching for the water has become one of the rites of Hajj. The human being has to strive by all his efforts along with his trust that there is no one Benefactor, no Distresser, no Exalting, no Humiliator, no Able, no Strong, no Giver, no Preventer except Allah (swt); who gives without reasons. However, Allah (swt) gives a lesson to us; that it is by the feet of the baby striking the ground and not by her running and searching, as Allah (swt) said to Mariam:

 { وَهُزِّي إِلَيْكِ بِجِذْعِ النَّخْلَةِ تُسَاقِطْ عَلَيْكِ رُطَبًا جَنِيًّا}

(And shake toward you the trunk of the palm tree; it will drop upon you ripe, fresh dates.)  (Maryam: 25)

Although, the trunk of the tree cannot be moved with the power of ten men. That is the same as what Allah (swt) said to Mosses:

{ فَأَوْحَيْنَا إِلَىٰ مُوسَىٰ أَنِ اضْرِب بِّعَصَاكَ الْبَحْرَ ۖ فَانفَلَقَ فَكَانَ كُلُّ فِرْقٍ كَالطَّوْدِ الْعَظِيمِ }

(Then We inspired to Moses, “Strike with your staff the sea,” and it parted, and each portion was like a great towering mountain.)  (Ash-Shu’araa: 63)

These sings refer to the world of reasons, so Allah (swt) wanted to give a lesson to the humanity.

{ فَاذْكُرُونِي أَذْكُرْكُمْ وَاشْكُرُوا لِي وَلَا تَكْفُرُونِ }

(So remember Me; I will remember you. And be grateful to Me and do not deny Me.)  (Al-Baqaraa: 152)

That is to mean, live with my care.

( إِنَّ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةَ مِن شَعَائِرِ اللَّهِ ) (Indeed, as-Safa and al-Marwah are among the rites of Allah.): Sayyidah Hajar trusted Allah (swt) and lived with her faith in Him (swt). Because she said: “Allah (swt) will not abandon us,” where reasons were too rare, so the Causer (swt) was with her. This is the relation in the verses. Hajj is rituals, Mash’ar (sacred landmarks) are the places where the rites are done, as the Mash’ar (sacred landmark) of Muzdalifa, Mina and every place of worship is called a Mash’ar.

The rites of Allah (swt) are the ways of worship, which have definite rituals.

( فَمَنْ حَجَّ الْبَيْتَ أَوِ اعْتَمَرَ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْهِ أَن يَطَّوَّفَ بِهِمَا  ) (So whoever makes Hajj to the House or performs ‘Ummrah – there is no blame upon him for walking between them..): Ummrah as Hajj is obligatory once in one’s life. After that, it will not be an obligatory duty. From this, the scholars concluded that the Ummrah is obligatory just for one time.

The Arabs used to put two statues Nailah and Issaf on the two mountains Safa and Marroah so that Muslims thought that it was not allowed to run between these two mountains but Allah (swt) told them that these statues have no value. However, they destroyed the statues when they embraced Islam.

(وَمَن تَطَوَّعَ خَيْرًا  ) (And whoever volunteers good..): If you liked Allah’s commissions, Allah (swt) is appreciative and Knowing because He (swt) knows that you loved His commands. You thank Allah (swt) through worship, and He (swt) appreciates you through his granting and blessings.

 {لَئِن شَكَرْتُمْ لَأَزِيدَنَّكُمْ }

(If you are grateful, I will surely increase you [in favor].)  (Ibrahim: 7)

Whoever makes Hajj or Ummrah more than once, or does what is obligatory and adds what is beyond it because of his compassion and love of the commissions then:

( فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ شَاكِرٌ عَلِيمٌ  ) (then indeed, Allah is appreciative and Knowing.)