Makkah
Safa & Marwah
The two hills of Hajar's ﷺ search - where Sa'i is performed.
What is Sa'i between Safa and Marwah?
Sa'i is walking seven times between the hills of Safa and Marwah - commemorating Hajar's ﷺ desperate search for water for her son Isma'il ﷺ. Today the path is fully enclosed and air-conditioned inside Masjid al-Haram.
Significance & history
Allah declared Safa and Marwah 'among the signs of Allah' (Qur'an 2:158). Hajar ﷺ ran between them seven times seeking water for baby Isma'il ﷺ before Allah caused Zamzam to burst forth at his feet. Sa'i is the Ummah's re-enactment of her tawakkul.
【BOOK】 The author retells Hajar's ﷺ trial in his own words in this chapter.
Role in the ritual
In Umrah, Sa'i follows Tawaf. In Hajj, it is performed after Tawaf al-Ifadah (or, for some, at the arrival). Start at Safa, end at Marwah - that counts as seven laps. Men jog between the two green markers; women walk normally.
Etiquette
- Face the Ka'bah at Safa and recite the verse of Al-Baqarah 2:158 before starting.
- Say 'Allahu Akbar' three times and make dua at each hill.
- Do not run in the green-lit stretch if you are a woman or physically unable.
- Use wheelchair lanes and upper floors when needed - the Sa'i is valid there too.
Duas
- At Safa/Marwah: Allahu Akbar (×3), Lā ilāha illa-Llāh...
Key Facts
One full circuit = Safa to Marwah or Marwah to Safa (not both).
Total is seven laps, ending at Marwah.
The Mas'a (Sa'i path) is roughly 450 m one way, fully enclosed and air-conditioned.
Visitor information
- Location
- Inside Masjid al-Haram, on the Mas'a corridor east of the Mataf
- Timings
- Open 24 hours; less crowded before Fajr and after midnight.
- - Wear comfortable footwear - Sa'i can take 45-90 minutes.
- - Carry Zamzam from stations along the route; do not stop others.
- - Use the wheelchair lane on the sides if you or a family member cannot walk.