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Key points
- Sa’i is walking seven times between the hills of Safa and Marwah, after the tawaf of Umrah, following the steps of Hajar (RA).
- Start at Safa and end at Marwah. Safa to Marwah is one round, Marwah back to Safa is the second.
- Each length is about 450 metres, so the seven rounds come to roughly 3 km. Most pilgrims walk barefoot or in socks on the cool marble.
- Between the green lights, men walk a little faster. Women walk at a normal pace all the way.
Why pilgrims walk between Safa and Marwah
When Hajar (RA) was left in the valley of Makkah with her baby Ismail and the water ran out, she climbed the hill of Safa to look for anyone who could help, then ran across the valley to the hill of Marwah, and back again, seven times. Then Allah opened the spring of Zamzam (Bukhari 3364).
Allah made her search a part of worship: “Indeed Safa and Marwah are among the signs of Allah” (2:158). Every pilgrim who does sa’i walks where a mother walked, trusting in Allah.
Before you start
- Sa’i comes after tawaf. Finish tawaf, the two rak’ahs and drinking Zamzam first
- Follow the signs for Safa (al-Safa) from the tawaf area. The sa’i hall is inside the mosque, with several floors
- Being in wudu is recommended for sa’i, though not a condition. If you lose it, you can continue
- Keep a small counter or count on your fingers; seven rounds is easy to lose track of in the crowd
Illustrative imageThe du’a on Safa
When you reach Safa for the first time, read this verse, as the Prophet ﷺ did. Then face the Kaaba, raise your hands, and say the words of tawhid, followed by your own du’a. Repeat this on each hill.
Reaching Safa at the start
إِنَّ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةَ مِنْ شَعَائِرِ اللَّهِ، أَبْدَأُ بِمَا بَدَأَ اللَّهُ بِهِ
Innas-safa wal-marwata min sha‘a’irillah. Abda’u bima bada’allahu bih.
Indeed Safa and Marwah are among the signs of Allah. I begin with what Allah began with.
Qur’an 2:158; Sahih Muslim 1218
On Safa and Marwah, facing the Kaaba
اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ، لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ، أَنْجَزَ وَعْدَهُ، وَنَصَرَ عَبْدَهُ، وَهَزَمَ الْأَحْزَابَ وَحْدَهُ
Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar. La ilaha illallahu wahdahu la sharika lah, lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamdu wa huwa ‘ala kulli shay’in qadir. La ilaha illallahu wahdah, anjaza wa‘dah, wa nasara ‘abdah, wa hazamal-ahzaba wahdah.
Allah is the Greatest (three times). There is no god but Allah alone, with no partner. His is the dominion and His is the praise, and He has power over all things. There is no god but Allah alone. He fulfilled His promise, helped His servant, and defeated the allies alone.
Sahih Muslim 1218
The seven rounds
- 1
Round 1
Safa to Marwah
- 2
Round 2
Marwah to Safa
- 3
Round 3
Safa to Marwah
- 4
Round 4
Marwah to Safa
- 5
Round 5
Safa to Marwah
- 6
Round 6
Marwah to Safa
- 7
Round 7
Safa to Marwah, and sa’i ends here
Between the two green lights on the way, men walk a little faster, as Hajar ran across the valley there. Women keep a normal pace. There is no fixed du’a for each round: make dhikr, read Qur’an and ask Allah for anything.
After sa’i
When the seventh round ends at Marwah, the sa’i is complete. For Umrah, the last step is cutting the hair: men shave the head or cut it short all over, and women cut about a fingertip’s length from the end of their hair. Then your Umrah is complete and the rules of ihram end.
For elderly parents and wheelchairs
- The upper floors of the sa’i hall are usually less crowded, and the roof is open-air, so go up if the ground floor is full
- Wheelchairs and electric carts are available at the Haram, with official pushers. Ask at the service counters and agree on the cost first
- Sitting to rest during sa’i is allowed. Rest, drink Zamzam from the coolers along the way, and continue
- Our group guides help families plan sa’i for an elderly parent, including the best time and floor
Questions
Seven. Safa to Marwah is the first round and Marwah to Safa is the second, so sa’i starts at Safa and ends at Marwah.
Related on our site
Official guidance
This guide is general travel information. For religious rulings, please ask a qualified scholar.
