What Is Sa'i: The Walk Between Safa and Marwa Explained

She had no one to help her. A vast, barren valley. A newborn crying. No water.

Hajar — the wife of Ibrahim عليه السلام, the mother of Ismail عليه السلام — did not sit and wait. She ran.

She ran to the hill of Safa. She looked out over the empty desert. Then she ran to the hill of Marwa. She looked again. Back and forth, seven times, searching with everything she had while trusting Allah with what she could not find.

That run — that act of striving, searching, and trusting — became one of Islam's most sacred rituals. And every Muslim who performs Hajj or Umrah retraces her steps.

What Sa'i Is

Sa'i سَعْي literally means striving or endeavoring. In Islamic worship, it refers to the ritual of traveling seven lengths between the hills of Safa and Marwa within Masjid al-Haram in Makkah.

The starting point is Safa (one length to Marwa); the ending point is Marwa (after seven lengths). The first length begins at Safa, the seventh ends at Marwa.

Sa'i is a pillar (rukn) of both Hajj and Umrah — not merely a Sunnah. Leaving it out invalidates the Hajj or Umrah entirely.

The Quran says:

إِنَّ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةَ مِن شَعَائِرِ اللَّهِ ۖ فَمَنْ حَجَّ الْبَيْتَ أَوِ اعْتَمَرَ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْهِ أَن يَطَّوَّفَ بِهِمَا

"Indeed Safa and Marwa are among the symbols of Allah. So whoever makes Hajj to the House or performs Umrah — there is no blame on them for walking between them."

— (Quran, Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:158)

The phrase "no blame" addressed a hesitation from some early Muslims who had previously associated the hills with pre-Islamic rituals. The verse affirmed: this walk is from Allah, not from Jahiliyyah.

The Story That Became a Ritual

Ibrahim عليه السلام, following Allah's command, left Hajar and infant Ismail in the valley of Makkah — then completely uninhabited. When the water ran out, Hajar searched desperately.

The Prophet ﷺ narrated her story: she ran to the top of Safa, looked across the valley, saw nothing, descended. She ran to Marwa, looked again. Back to Safa. Seven times.

On the seventh length, she heard a sound. She ran toward it and found the angel Jibril digging with his heel at the earth — and water gushing forth. That spring became Zamzam. (Sahih Bukhari 3364)

The Prophet ﷺ said: "May Allah have mercy on Umm Ismail — had she left Zamzam alone, or had she not scooped from it, it would have been a flowing river." (Sahih Bukhari 3364)

This story is about tawakkul تَوَكُّل — trust in Allah — combined with action. Hajar did not wait passively. She moved. She searched. She used her limbs while trusting her Lord with the outcome. That is the model for a Muslim's entire life.

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How Sa'i Is Performed

1. Begin at Safa after completing tawaf

Sa'i immediately follows tawaf. Begin by climbing the hill of Safa (now a series of steps and ramps within the mosque structure). Face the Kaaba. Say:

إِنَّ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةَ مِن شَعَائِرِ اللَّهِ

Innas-Safa wal-Marwata min sha'a'irillah

(Recite this only at the beginning of the first length — not repeated at each hill.)

Then say three times with your hands raised toward the Kaaba:

لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ يُحْيِي وَيُمِيتُ وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ

La ilaha illallahu wahdahu la sharika lahu, lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamdu yuhyi wa yumitu wa huwa 'ala kulli shay'in qadir

Make dua at Safa between the repetitions.

2. Walk to Marwa

Walk (or move by wheelchair) toward Marwa. The sa'i path is clearly marked in modern Masjid al-Haram with green markers. Between the two green lights, men traditionally jog lightly — this is Sunnah, not obligatory.

3. Repeat at Marwa

At Marwa, face the Kaaba (even though you cannot see it due to the masjid structure), repeat the dhikr and dua. This completes one two-way journey (two lengths).

4. Continue for seven lengths

Each time you pass the green lights zone: walk briskly/jog lightly (for men). Make dua between the hills. Keep your heart present. The seventh length ends at Marwa.

5. After completing sa'i

For Umrah: shave or trim your hair to exit ihram. For Hajj Tamattu: the sa'i of Hajj is done after tawaf al-ifadah on Day 10. After it, you are fully out of ihram.

What to Say and Do Between the Hills

There is no specific prescribed script for the walking portions. The Prophet ﷺ made personal dua and dhikr as he moved. This time is yours — bring what is in your heart.

Common practices:

• Recite the Quran
• Repeat the core dhikr: la ilaha illallah, subhanallah, alhamdulillah, Allahu akbar
• Make specific personal duas — for health, family, forgiveness, guidance
• Read from a dua book specifically for Hajj and Umrah rites

Common Questions About Sa'i

Does a woman need to jog between the green markers? No. The jogging (harwalah) during sa'i is specifically for men. Women walk normally throughout.

What if I need to stop mid-sa'i? You may pause for an obligatory prayer, to perform wudu, or to rest. Resume from where you stopped.

I performed sa'i before tawaf by mistake — is it valid? The correct sequence is tawaf first, then sa'i. If you performed sa'i before tawaf, the majority position is that the sa'i must be repeated after the correct tawaf. Consult your Hajj guide.

What is the difference between sa'i in Umrah vs Hajj? In Umrah: sa'i follows the tawaf of Umrah, then you exit ihram. In Hajj: sa'i (if Hajj Tamattu) follows tawaf al-ifadah on Day 10. For the full Hajj sequence, see hajj step by step and what is tawaf for the preceding ritual.

Is there a dua specifically for sa'i? The duas at Safa and Marwa come from the Prophet's practice. See dua for hajj for the comprehensive collection.

The Lesson That Travels Home With You

Hajar did not have certainty of outcome when she ran. She had certainty of Allah.

Every time a Muslim performs sa'i — climbing to Safa, looking out, walking to Marwa, looking out again — they are reenacting this combination: sincere effort plus complete trust. Not passive surrender without action. Not frantic action without trust. Both, together.

That balance is what the nafs most resists. The nafs either wants to do everything by its own power or wants to wait for Allah without moving. Sa'i says: do both.

Walk. Trust. Walk again.

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