It is not obligatory to climb up to the top of Safa and Marwah

19-8-2011 | IslamWeb

Question:

Assalamu Alaikum Is it necessary to climb upward at safa turning point of ground level corridor? Wheel chair person simply turns after one or two steps forward at safa turning point. what about people who perform sayee at roof or basement ? Does safa hill start as soon as level ground starts to uplift or is there some artificial elevation ?

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Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

We have already issued many Fataawa clarifying that climbing As-Safa and Al-Marwah is not an obligation even though it is legislated as the Prophet did it. Rather, what is obligatory is to cover the entire distance between As-Safa and Al-Marwah in a way that the walking person touches with his feet the root of both mountains so that the entire distance of Sa’y would be covered by him.

Indeed, this distance is determined by the passage designated for the wheelchair users. Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen said: “The boundary of Sa’y that one must cover is the end of the passage designated for the wheelchairs, i.e. the wheelchair route ends at the limit of the place that should be covered in Sa’y, because those who designated wheelchair route designated it at the end of the distance that should be covered in Sa’y …”

This applies to all levels [of the passage between As-Safa and Al-Marwah]; therefore, whoever steps one step or two steps on the root of the mountain – as the questioner mentioned – he has done what is required from him and he is not obliged to climb up to the top of the mountain.

Allaah Knows best.