What is Sa'i?
Sa'i (السعي) means "to strive" or "to walk with purpose." It is the act of walking seven laps between the two small hills of Safa (الصفا) and Marwa (المروة) inside Al-Masjid al-Haram in Makkah. Sa'i is a pillar (Rukn) of both Umrah and Hajj — it cannot be omitted or replaced.
Sa'i commemorates one of the most powerful acts of faith in human history: the desperate run of Hajar (Hagar) ﷺ — the wife of Prophet Ibrahim ﷺ — between these same hills in search of water for her infant son, the Prophet Ismail ﷺ. Left alone in the barren desert valley, she ran back and forth seven times in total submission and trust in Allah. In response to her trust, Allah caused the miraculous spring of Zamzam to burst from the earth.
Today, the Mas'a — a magnificent, climate-controlled walkway — encases the ancient path of Hajar between Safa and Marwa entirely within the expanded Al-Masjid al-Haram complex. Millions of pilgrims walk this same path annually, reenacting her striving in an act of profound spiritual remembrance.
🕌 Allah says: "Indeed, Safa and Marwa are among the symbols (Sha'air) of Allah. So whoever makes Hajj to the House or performs Umrah — there is no blame upon him for walking between them." — Quran 2:158
The Ruling on Sa'i
Sa'i in Umrah
Sa'i is a Rukn (pillar) of Umrah. Omitting it — even forgetfully — invalidates the Umrah entirely. It cannot be compensated by a Fidya.
Sa'i in Hajj
Sa'i is also a Rukn of Hajj according to the majority of scholars. It is performed after Tawaf al-Qudum (arrival Tawaf) or Tawaf al-Ifadah (main pilgrimage Tawaf).
Sa'i al-Nafl
Unlike Tawaf, voluntary Sa'i is NOT prescribed. Sa'i may only be performed as part of the obligatory rituals of Hajj or Umrah — there is no extra/voluntary Sa'i.
Sa'i Lap Chart — 7 Shawts
Use this reference chart to track your 7 laps. Remember: always start at Safa, and your 7th lap will always end at Marwa.
Sa'i Direction Reference
| Lap (Shawt) | Start | Direction | End |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lap 1 | Safa | → | Marwa |
| Lap 2 | Marwa | ← | Safa |
| Lap 3 | Safa | → | Marwa |
| Lap 4 | Marwa | ← | Safa |
| Lap 5 | Safa | → | Marwa |
| Lap 6 | Marwa | ← | Safa |
| Lap 7 (FINAL) | Safa | → | Marwa |
Conditions for a Valid Sa'i
🔢 7 Complete Laps
Exactly 7 laps must be completed, starting from Safa. Performing 6 laps (ending at Safa) renders the Sa'i incomplete and it must be corrected.
⛰️ Start at Safa
The first lap must begin at Mount Safa and the last (7th) lap must end at Mount Marwa. Starting at Marwa is incorrect — the first lap must be repeated.
🕌 Performed After Tawaf
Sa'i must be preceded by a valid Tawaf. If the Tawaf it follows is invalid, the Sa'i is also invalid.
💧 Ritual Purity (Recommended)
Wudu is not an obligatory condition for Sa'i — unlike Tawaf. However, it is strongly recommended (Mustahabb) to perform Sa'i in a state of Wudu.
🚶 Entire Mas'a Must Be Covered
Each lap must cover the full length of the Mas'a from one mountain to the other. Stopping partway through a lap means that lap is not counted.
🦽 Wheelchair: Fully Valid
Sa'i performed entirely by wheelchair or mobility scooter is 100% valid. Pilgrims who cannot walk may use the wheelchairs available throughout the Haram.
Step-by-Step: How to Perform Sa'i
Complete Tawaf First — Sa'i Follows Tawaf
Sa'i is always performed after Tawaf. For Umrah, you perform Tawaf al-Umrah (7 circuits of the Kaaba) and then pray 2 Rak'ahs at Maqam Ibrahim and drink from Zamzam. Only after these steps do you proceed to the Mas'a walkway to begin Sa'i.
Sa'i performed before Tawaf is invalid and must be repeated. Always: Tawaf → 2 Rak'ahs → Zamzam → Sa'i.
Proceed to Mount Safa
After drinking Zamzam, proceed to the Mas'a — the enclosed, climate-controlled walkway between Safa and Marwa inside Al-Masjid al-Haram. Walk toward Mount Safa (Jabal Safa), which is at the southern end of the Mas'a. You will see the green fluorescent start marker and Arabic signs indicating 'Safa'.
The Mas'a is on the eastern side of the Haram complex. There are multiple entrances and the walkway has three separate levels to manage the huge volume of pilgrims during peak times.
Climb Safa, Face the Kaaba, Make Dua
Ascend the steps of Mount Safa until you can see (or face the direction of) the Kaaba. Raise your hands in supplication, recite the opening supplication of Sa'i (see Duas section below), and make a sincere personal dua. Spend a moment in heartfelt worship before beginning your first lap.
Recite: 'Inna al-Safa wal-Marwata min sha'a'irillah' (Quran 2:158) — 'Indeed Safa and Marwa are among the symbols of Allah.' Then say 'Abda'u bima bada'allahu bih' — 'I begin with what Allah began with.'
Walk Lap 1: Safa → Marwa
Begin walking from Safa toward Marwa at a steady, comfortable pace. As you walk, recite dhikr, send salawat upon the Prophet ﷺ, or make personal duas in any language. The complete distance of the Mas'a is approximately 394 metres (one way). Keep moving forward — do not turn back partway through a lap.
Men should jog/run lightly (Sa'y) between the two green fluorescent light zones marking the area where Hajar ﷺ ran. Women walk at a normal pace — running is not prescribed for women.
Reach Marwa — Face Kaaba & Make Dua
When you reach Mount Marwa, ascend the steps, face the direction of the Kaaba, raise your hands, and make dua — just as you did at Safa. This is the end of Lap 1. Pause and make sincere supplication before turning around for Lap 2.
The dua at Marwa mirrors the dua at Safa. Spend a meaningful moment here — do not merely touch the wall and turn back. This moment of pause at each mountain is a Sunnah.
Laps 2 through 7 — Alternate Between Safa & Marwa
Turn around at Marwa and walk back toward Safa for Lap 2. Continue alternating: Lap 3 = Safa → Marwa, Lap 4 = Marwa → Safa, and so on. Remember to jog between the green markers for every lap. Make dua at each mountain as you arrive. At each mountain arrival, the supplication and dua are repeated.
Count carefully: Lap 1 (Safa→Marwa), Lap 2 (Marwa→Safa), Lap 3 (Safa→Marwa), Lap 4 (Marwa→Safa), Lap 5 (Safa→Marwa), Lap 6 (Marwa→Safa), Lap 7 (Safa→Marwa). Lap 7 ENDS at Marwa.
Complete the 7th Lap at Marwa
After arriving at Marwa for the 4th time (completing Lap 7), your Sa'i is complete. Make a final dua at Marwa. For Umrah, you are now ready to perform Halq (shaving the head) or Taqsir (trimming the hair) — the final step of Umrah.
Men may shave their head (Halq) or shorten their hair (Taqsir). Women should cut a finger-tip length from their hair (Taqsir only — women never shave). After this, you exit the state of Ihram and your Umrah is complete.
Duas to Recite During Sa'i
There are no fixed obligatory duas for each lap of Sa'i — any sincere supplication is welcome. The following duas are from the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ and are highly recommended:
Upon ascending Safa (start of Sa'i) — Quranic verse
إِنَّ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةَ مِن شَعَائِرِ اللَّهِ
Inna al-Safa wal-Marwata min sha'a'irillah
Indeed, Safa and Marwa are among the symbols (rituals) of Allah. (Quran 2:158)
Declaration before beginning the first lap
أَبْدَأُ بِمَا بَدَأَ اللَّهُ بِهِ
Abda'u bima bada'allahu bih
I begin with that which Allah began with.
At Safa and Marwa — Facing the Kaaba direction
اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، وَلِلَّهِ الْحَمْدُ — لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, wa lillahil hamd — La ilaha illallahu wahdahu la sharika lah, lahul mulku wa lahul hamdu wa huwa 'ala kulli shay'in qadir
Allah is the Greatest (×3), and to Allah belongs all praise. There is no god but Allah alone, with no partner. His is the dominion, His is all praise, and He is over all things powerful.
Between Safa and Marwa (during walking)
رَبِّ اغْفِرْ وَارْحَمْ، إِنَّكَ أَنتَ الْأَعَزُّ الْأَكْرَمُ
Rabbighfir warham, innaka antal-a'azzul-akram
O Lord, forgive and have mercy. Verily You are the Most Mighty, the Most Generous.
Common Mistakes to Avoid in Sa'i
❌ Starting at Marwa instead of Safa
Sa'i must always begin at Safa. If you start at Marwa by mistake, that first lap (Marwa→Safa) does not count. Begin again from Safa.
❌ Performing only 6 laps and stopping at Safa
6 laps ending at Safa is incomplete. The 7th lap (Safa→Marwa) must be completed. The Sa'i ends only at Marwa.
❌ Performing Sa'i before Tawaf
Sa'i performed before the required Tawaf is invalid. Always perform Tawaf first, then Sa'i.
❌ Women running between the green markers
Running between the green markers is a Sunnah for men only. Women should walk at a normal pace throughout all 7 laps.
❌ Not covering the full Mas'a distance
Each lap must cover the full length of the Mas'a. Stopping before reaching the mountain on either end means that lap is incomplete.
❌ Leaving Sa'i to pray Salah and not resuming
If a Fardh prayer is called during Sa'i, pause and pray, then resume Sa'i from where you stopped. You do not need to restart from Safa.
What Comes After Sa'i?
After completing Sa'i at Marwa, pilgrims perform Halq or Taqsir — the cutting of hair — which marks the end of Umrah and exits the pilgrim from the state of Ihram:
Halq — Full Head Shave
Shaving the entire head is the preferred act for men. The Prophet ﷺ made du'a three times for those who shave (Halq) and once for those who trim (Taqsir), indicating Halq is more virtuous for men.
Taqsir — Trimming
Women cut a fingertip-length from their hair — never more than that. For men, Taqsir (trimming at least an inch from all of the hair) is also valid if they prefer not to shave. However, Halq is more virtuous for men.
Sa'i FAQ
How many laps (Shawts) are in Sa'i?
Sa'i consists of 7 laps (Shawts) between Safa and Marwa. The first lap starts at Safa and ends at Marwa (Lap 1). The second lap returns from Marwa back to Safa (Lap 2). This continues until the 7th lap, which ends at Marwa. So: odd laps (1, 3, 5, 7) end at Marwa, and even laps (2, 4, 6) end at Safa.
Does Sa'i require Wudu (ritual ablution)?
According to the majority of Islamic scholars, Wudu is recommended (Mustahabb) but NOT a condition for the validity of Sa'i. Sa'i can be performed without Wudu and it remains valid. However, it is strongly recommended to be in a state of purity while performing it out of reverence for the sacred act.
Where does Sa'i start and end?
Sa'i always starts at Mount Safa and ends at Mount Marwa after the 7th lap. The first lap goes from Safa → Marwa, and the walk alternates direction each lap. The 7th and final lap ends at Marwa, where pilgrims then perform Halq (shaving) or Taqsir (trimming) to complete their Umrah.
Can Sa'i be performed in a wheelchair?
Yes. Sa'i is fully valid when performed in a wheelchair or mobility scooter, which are available for hire within Al-Masjid al-Haram. Pilgrims with disabilities, the elderly, and those unable to walk the full distance may be pushed or ride a wheelchair through the Mas'a walkway. The reward is not diminished.
What is the green light area in the Mas'a walkway?
The green fluorescent light section in the Mas'a marks the area between the two small hills of Safa and Marwa where Prophet Hajar (Hagar) ran desperately searching for water for her infant son Ismail. Male pilgrims should jog/run lightly between these green markers — this act is a Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ. Women walk at a normal pace throughout.
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