Sa’i Guide: Walking Between Safa and Marwa During Umrah

The Significance of Sa’i

When Prophet Ibrahim left Hajar and their infant son Isma’il in the barren valley of Makkah by divine command, Hajar searched desperately between the two hills of Safa and Marwa for water or help. On her seventh trip, she heard a sound — and discovered the spring of Zamzam flowing near her son. Allah preserved this act of trust and striving in perpetuity: every pilgrim who performs Sa’i walks the same path, in the same spirit.

Sa’i is described in the Quran: “Indeed, Safa and Marwa are among the symbols of Allah. So whoever makes Hajj to the House or performs Umrah — there is no blame upon him for walking between them.” (2:158)

Is Sa’i Obligatory?

The Hanafi school holds Sa’i to be a wajib (obligatory) act of Umrah — missing it requires an expiation (dam). The Shafi’i and Maliki schools hold it to be a rukn (pillar), meaning the Umrah is invalid without it. In all four Sunni schools, Sa’i is indispensable: do not omit it.

How to Perform Sa’i: Step by Step

1. Complete tawaf and the two raka’ah at Maqam Ibrahim first. Sa’i must be performed after tawaf. The scholarly majority requires that tawaf precede Sa’i for it to be valid.
2. Proceed to Safa. Exit toward the Mas’a — the enclosed corridor between the two hills — and climb the steps toward Safa. Face the direction of the Kaaba, raise your hands in supplication, and recite: Innassafa wal-marwata min sha’a’irillah (the Quranic verse above), then make du’a.
3. Walk from Safa to Marwa — this is trip one. Descend from Safa and walk the length of the corridor toward Marwa. There is no specific du’a prescribed for the walk; use the time for dhikr, Quran recitation, or personal supplication.
4. Jog between the green markers (men only). In the middle of the corridor, green fluorescent lights mark a short stretch where men are encouraged to walk briskly or jog (sa’y). Women walk at a normal pace throughout.
5. Reach Marwa — face the Kaaba and make du’a. Once at Marwa, face the Kaaba direction and make supplication as you did at Safa. This completes trip one.
6. Return to Safa — trip two. Walk back from Marwa to Safa. Continue alternating until you have completed seven trips total.
7. End at Marwa on the seventh trip. The count is: Safa to Marwa = 1, Marwa to Safa = 2, and so on. Trip seven ends at Marwa. You do not return to Safa after the seventh trip.

Counting the Trips

A common point of confusion: each one-way passage is one trip, not each round trip. The sequence is:

1. Safa → Marwa
2. Marwa → Safa
3. Safa → Marwa
4. Marwa → Safa
5. Safa → Marwa
6. Marwa → Safa
7. Safa → Marwa (ends here)

Seven trips, starting at Safa and ending at Marwa. If you lose count, take the lower number and add trips until you are certain you have completed at least seven.

Conditions and Practical Notes

• Wudu for Sa’i. Unlike tawaf, wudu is not required for Sa’i in the Hanafi school — though it is recommended. If your wudu breaks during Sa’i, you may continue without renewing it (according to Hanafi position). Other schools differ; ask the assistant if your madhab matters here.
• Ihram must still be worn. You are still in ihram during Sa’i; all ihram prohibitions continue to apply until the hair-cutting rite afterward.
• Wheelchair users. Sa’i may be performed in a wheelchair if walking is not possible; the same route and count apply.
• Breaks during Sa’i. If you need to stop for rest or prayer, you may resume from where you left off in most scholarly positions.

After Sa’i: Completing Umrah

Once the seventh trip of Sa’i ends at Marwa, proceed to have your hair cut or shaved (halq or taqsir). This is the final rite that ends the state of ihram and completes your Umrah. See the complete Umrah guide for the full sequence.