Let us now refer to some features involved: First : Relating the story of the Sleepers of Ephesus, the Holy Qur'an confirms that the believers who prevailed on the affairs of the people of that time, decided to erect a mosque over the graves of the Sleepers as a sign of exalting the incident of these righteous men who had rejected paganism and tyranny: وَكَذَلِكَ أَعْثَرْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ لِيَعْلَمُوا أَنَّ وَعْدَ اللَّهِ حَقٌّ وَأَنَّ السَّاعَةَ لَا رَيْبَ فِيهَا إِذْ يَتَنَازَعُونَ بَيْنَهُمْ أَمْرَهُمْ فَقَالُوا ابْنُوا عَلَيْهِمْ بُنْيَانًا رَبُّهُمْ أَعْلَمُ بِهِمْ قَالَ الَّذِينَ غَلَبُوا عَلَى أَمْرِهِمْ لَنَتَّخِذَنَّ عَلَيْهِمْ مَسْجِدًا (21) Thus did We make their case known to the people, that they might know that the promise of Allah is true, and that there can be no doubt about the Hour of Judgment.
Behold, they dispute among themselves as to their affair. Some said, “Construct a building over them (their remains).
Their Lord knows best about them.” Those who prevailed over their affair said, “Let us surely build a place of worship over them.” (18:21) Second : Prophet Abraham’s Standing-place, which is a place upon which he stood while building the Holy Ka’bah, is highly praised in the Holy Qur'an and it is deemed obligatory, on the consensus of all Muslims, to offer a two unit prayer there after performing the ritual circumambulation of the Ka’bah.
The Holy Qur'an thus reads: اتَّخِذُوا مِنْ مَقَامِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ مُصَلًّى (125) Take you the station of Abraham as a place of prayer. (2:125) Third : As unanimously agreed by Muslims, it has been made obligatory to include the site that is called Hijr Isma’il (the fence built by Prophet Ishmael (‘a) around the tomb of his mother) with the ritual circumambulation even though it is not part of the Holy Ka’bah itself.
Likewise, it is recommended to offer prayers on that site because it is the graveyard of Prophet Ishmael’s mother as well as a group of prophets. Fourth : The Holy Qur'an has confirmed the act of hastening between the hills of Safa and Marwah as one of the rituals determined by Almighty Allah.
In this respect, the Holy Qur'an says: إِنَّ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةَ مِنْ شَعَائِرِ اللَّهِ فَمَنْ حَجَّ الْبَيْتَ أَوِ اعْتَمَرَ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْهِ أَنْ يَطَّوَّفَ بِهِمَا وَمَنْ تَطَوَّعَ خَيْرًا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ شَاكِرٌ عَلِيمٌ (158) Behold! Safa and Marwah are among the RITUALS of Allah.