As-Safa And Al-Marwata

The ritual known as Sai’e that involves fast walking between the two hills named as As-Safa and Al-Marwata was believed for the remembrance of Prophet Ibrahim’s wife, Siti Hajar, to emulate her struggle to find water. The two stone hills today have become a pair from many other places of veneration, to perform prayers / do’a. The two hills, essential to the rituals of Hajj and Umra’, are part and parcel of association of a particular place with Allah

Both, As-Safa and Al-Marwata were mentioned in the Quran, only once.  But does the Quran actualy describe them as two stone hills?

2:158  Indeed, the Al-Safa and Al-Marwata 

are from the signification of Allah [min sha’āiri Allah] .
So whoever, 
challenges the House [hajja l-bayta]
or the sustaining life [awi I’tamara], 
so no difficulty on him 
that he prevails [yattawwafa]
with both of ‘them’. [bi-himā]
And whoever voluntarily does good, 

then indeed, 
Allah (is) All-Appreciative, All-Knowing.

Traditional narrative tells us that Al-Safa and Al-Marwata are the two venerated STONE hills near the Kaaba.   But the Quran states them otherwise, as the true essence of Sha’airi Allah.  So to understand Quranic explanation of As-Safa and Al-Marwata, we simply have to focus on the key word that is:

shaʿāiri Allah [ شَعَآئِرِ ٱللَّ ]

Traditionally Translated as:

Signs – Shakir

Symbols – Yusuf Ali / Asad

Generally in this context means our manifestation ( of Allah )

So we only have to read the verses in the Quran that explains 

shaʿāiri Allah [ شَعَآئِرِ ٱللَّ ]

This, of course can be found in no other than the Surah Al-Hajj 

22:29 Then let them end their uncleanliness (tafathahum), 
and fulfill their vows (nudhurahum) 
and let them approach (wal-yattawwafu) 
the established (L-Atiqi) Institution." (L-Bayt)

tafathahum – Uncleanliness refers to false words / shirk

yattawwafu – to approach and be near

L-Atiqi – The state, or act, of preceding, or having precedence,  – The mare, (Ṣ, O,) or horse, (Ḳ,) preceded, and became safe, or secure:

22:30 That; and whoever 
RESPECTS THE SACRED ORDINANCES of Allah, 
it is better for him with his Lord; 
and The Favors (L-AN’AMU) are made lawful for you, 
and what is recited to you, 
therefore AVOID THE UNCLEANNESS OF THE IDOLS AND AVOID FALSE WORDS, 

l-an’amu – The Favors from Al-Rahman

ma yut’la alaykum – recited meaning what you have come to know with knowledge

22:31  BEING UPRIGHT for Allah, 
NOT ASSOCIATING ANYTHNG with Him 
and whoever associates (others) with Allah, 
it is as though he had fallen from the sky, 
then the birds snatch him away 
or the wind carries him off to a far-distant place.

22:32  That; And whoever magnifies 
the signification of Allah (SHA’AIRI ALLAH); 
then indeed it is from mindfulness (taqwa) of the hearts,

22:30 and 22:31 emphasise and explains the two elements of SHA’AIRI ALLAH.

22:30 
 
1.RESPECTS THE SACRED ORDINANCES of Allah &
 
2.AVOID THE UNCLEANNESS OF THE IDOLS AND AVOID FALSE WORDS,

22:31 
 
1.BEING UPRIGHT for Allah & 
2.NOT ASSOCIATING ANYTHNG with Him

As-Safa : 

Being upright for Allah,

Respects the sanctions of Allah, 

Marwata : 

not associating aught with Him and whoever associates (others) with Allah,  avoid the uncleanness of the idols and avoid false word. 

So clearly As-Safa and Al-Marwata, in the Quran, are in exact opposite to the two hills in Makkah.  Why do we need to associate the two hills with Allah, the Lord of the Universe? Do we know how vast the universe is?