Sa’ee (Safa–Marwa)

Sa’ee is the walking between the hills of Safa and Marwa, performed after Tawaf. It commemorates the struggle of Hājar, the mother of Ismā‘īl عليه السلام, in her desperate search for water in the barren desert of Makkah.

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1. Qur’anic Origin

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

Inna aṣ-Ṣafā wal-Marwata min sha‘ā’irillāh. Fa man ḥajja al-bayta awi‘tamara falā junāḥa ‘alayhi an yaṭṭawwafa bihimā...

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.

— Surah Al-Baqarah 2:158

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2. Timing of Sa’ee

• In ‘Umrah: After Tawaf.
• In Hajj:
  • Tamattu‘: Sa’ee is performed after Tawaf of ‘Umrah before exiting Ihram.
  • Ifrād / Qirān: Sa’ee is done after Tawaf al-Ifādah.

✅ Fatwa: Sa’ee must follow a valid Tawaf. If done before it (without a valid reason), it is not accepted.
IslamQA Fatwa 109321

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3. Conditions of Valid Sa’ee

• Must begin at Safa and end at Marwa.
• Must be 7 complete circuits. Each leg (Safa→Marwa or vice versa) counts as one.
• Must follow Tawaf (not precede it).
• Continuous, though rest is allowed.
• Taharah (wudu) is recommended, but not required.

✅ Fatwa: Being in a state of wudu is not a condition for Sa’ee but is mustahabb (recommended).
IslamWeb Fatwa 86456

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4. How to Perform Sa’ee (Step-by-Step)

1. At Safa, face the Ka’bah and recite:

إِنَّ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةَ مِن شَعَائِرِ اللَّهِ

Inna aṣ-Ṣafā wal-Marwata min sha‘ā’irillāh

Indeed, Safa and Marwa are among the symbols of Allah

— Sahih Muslim 1218

Then say: Abda’u bimā bad’allāhu bih — “I begin with what Allah began with.”

2. Make du‘a at Safa, facing the Ka’bah. Repeat three times if possible.

3. Walk to Marwa. Between the two green lights, men jog (raml), women walk normally.

4. At Marwa, repeat the dhikr and du‘a.

5. Return to Safa and repeat steps until completing 7 rounds. Ends at Marwa.

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5. Rules for Women

• Women do not jog between green lights.
• They may perform Sa’ee during menstruation if Tawaf was already valid.

✅ Fatwa: A woman who becomes menstruating after Tawaf may do Sa’ee without issue.
IslamQA Fatwa 21007

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6. Common Mistakes

• Starting from Marwa instead of Safa (invalid).
• Performing less than 7 rounds.
• Treating Sa’ee as casual walking or socialising.
• Not following up immediately after Tawaf without a valid reason.

✅ Fatwa: Delaying Sa’ee excessively without reason is disliked; it should ideally be done immediately.
IslamWeb Fatwa 289250

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7. Spiritual Reminder

Sa’ee is a ritual full of tawakkul and sabr. It honours Hajar’s resolve — a single mother left in the desert, trusting Allah fully.

The Prophet ﷺ said:

May Allah have mercy on the mother of Isma'il. Had she not hurried, the Zamzam would have been a flowing stream on the surface.

— Sahih al-Bukhari 3365

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