The four rites · 03
Step 3: Saʿi
Seven lengths between Safa and Marwah, beginning at Safa, with the Sunnah dhikr and practical tips for the walk.
Saʿi commemorates Hajar's search for water for her son Ismaʿil between the two hills of Safa and Marwah. Today the route is a long, air-conditioned gallery inside the mosque, about 450 metres each way.
How to perform saʿi
Go to Safa
After tawaf and Zamzam, follow the signs to Safa. As you approach, recite the verse once.Face the Kaaba and supplicate
Climb a little onto Safa, face the Kaaba, raise your hands, and say the dhikr three times with your own duas in between.Walk to Marwah
Walk towards Marwah. Between the two green-lit markers, men jog lightly; women walk at a normal pace.Repeat on Marwah
On Marwah, face the Kaaba and repeat what you did on Safa.Seven lengths
Safa to Marwah is one, Marwah back to Safa is two, and so on. The seventh ends at Marwah.
إِنَّ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةَ مِن شَعَائِرِ اللّٰهِ
Innaṣ-Ṣafā wal-Marwata min sha'ā'irillāh.
Indeed, Safa and Marwah are among the symbols of Allah.
Once, as you approach Safa at the very start of Saʿi.
Quran 2:158; Sahih Muslim 1218
اللّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ. لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ، وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ، لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ وَحْدَهُ، أَنْجَزَ وَعْدَهُ، وَنَصَرَ عَبْدَهُ، وَهَزَمَ الْأَحْزَابَ وَحْدَهُ
Allāhu akbar (×3). Lā ilāha illallāhu waḥdahu lā sharīka lah, lahul-mulku wa lahul-ḥamd, wa huwa 'alā kulli shay'in qadīr. Lā ilāha illallāhu waḥdah, anjaza wa'dah, wa naṣara 'abdah, wa hazamal-aḥzāba waḥdah.
Allah is the Greatest. There is no god but Allah alone, without partner. His is the dominion and His is the praise, and He is able to do all things. There is no god but Allah alone. He fulfilled His promise, supported His servant, and defeated the confederates alone.
Face the Kaaba, raise your hands, and say this three times with your own duas in between. Repeat on Marwah.
Sahih Muslim 1218
During the walk, use any dhikr or dua: SubhanAllah, Alhamdulillah, Allahu Akbar, La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah, or your own words.
“O Allah, accept my Saʿi and forgive my sins.”
At Marwah, after the seventh length.