Sha’air of God (Symbols of God

The Emotional Journey Of Hajj no habitation or water there. When Hajar’s water supply ran out, she ran between Safa and Marwah seven times in search of water. To commemorate this event, all pilgrims today perform the ritual of Sa’i by running seven times between these two hills. This incident was so beloved to God that He declared Safa and Marwah to be His symbols—authentic reminders of devotion to God. Seeing Safa and Marwah brings to mind the entire history when a believer, solely for God’s pleasure, left his lush homeland (Iraq) and settled his wife and child in an arid, uninhabited land. This is a perfect example of faith in and reliance on God. Similarly, the Ka‘bah, the Black Stone (Hajar al-Aswad), and other elements related to Hajj are all Sha’air of God. These symbols represent the God-oriented life of Prophet Ibrahim, the friend of God. Observing them evokes the remarkable history of Ibrahim’s unwavering commitment to monotheism. Being in their presence allows one to feel enveloped in an atmosphere of divine grandeur and majesty, making one feel close to God. The Black Stone has been described in hadith as “The hand of God on earth” (Kanz al-Ummal, Hadith No. 38072), although this is to be understood metaphorically, not literally. The divine emotions that rise within a person seek tangible fulfilment by wanting to touch the hand of God and satisfy the longing to connect with the divine. By kissing the Black Stone, a person fulfils this emotional desire. Similarly, a person desires to circle around God in devotion; by performing the Tawaf (circumambulation)