What is the wisdom behind some of the rites of hajj, such as stoning and walking between Safa and Marwa

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullah,

The basis of our moral responsibility is submission to the Command of God. Thus, we are to obey, out of love, thankfulness, and slavehood, whether we understand the wisdom or reasoning behind the Divine Command or not. Our seeking of understanding should be an enactment of our slavehood and submission to Allah–for it enables the mind itself to submit more fully–rather than a questioning of doubt.

As Shaykh Adib Kallas (may Allah preserve him) would often remind that, “The actions of the Wise are never bereft of wisdom. However, the question is whether we understand it or not.” Every act of the Shariah has benefit for those morally responsible. There is always a next-worldly benefit; normally, there is also a worldly benefit. However, some benefits are readily discernible; others require intellectual or spiritual inspiration; others are beyond human capacity to discern, either wholly or in part, as explained by Imam Ibn Abd al-Salam in his al-Qawa`id al-Kubra.

Allah’s words about riba (usury) in the Qur’an are worth reflecting on:

002.275 Those who swallow usury cannot rise up save as he ariseth whom the devil has driven mad by his touch. That is because they say: Trade is just like usury; whereas Allah permitteth trading and forbiddeth usury.

Allah’s response to the claim of disbelievers about usury is not a rational explanation of why it is forbidden, but a statement of ultimate reality: this is the Command of God.

When believers hear the Command of their Beloved, they rejoice in recognizing the tremendous favor and honor of slavehood, and rush–as the Prophets, Companions, and foremost did–to obey.

And Allah alone gives success.

Wassalam