Sa'i
How do I perform Sa'i between Safa and Marwah?
إِنَّ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةَ مِنْ شَعَائِرِ اللّٰهِ
al-Baqarah 2:158
Sa'i is seven laps between Safa and Marwah, beginning at Safa and ending at Marwah. Safa to Marwah counts as one lap and the way back counts as two. It follows the tawaf.
Before you begin
Sa'i follows the tawaf. After the two rak'ahs and Zamzam, return to the Black Stone for istilam, then walk to Safa, which is signposted inside the masjid. Brothers now keep both shoulders covered. Being in wudu is better, though it is not necessary.
On Safa
You do not need to climb the slope. Face the Kaaba if you can, recite the verse that Safa and Marwah are among the symbols of Allah, and say that you begin with what Allah began with. Raise your hands to the shoulders as in dua, say Allahu akbar three times and the words of tahlil, and ask Allah for whatever you need.
The seven laps
Walk towards Marwah. Between the green lights brothers move at a light run while sisters keep walking. On reaching Marwah, face the Kaaba and do as you did on Safa. That is one lap. Walk back for the second, until the seventh lap brings you to Marwah. See the green lights.
More questions
Where does Sa'i start?
At Safa. It ends at Marwah after seven laps.
Do I need a counter?
Our Sa'i page has a counter that shows which way you are walking.
What comes after Sa'i?
Shave or shorten your hair. See halq or taqsir.
Read the full guide
Perform your Umrah with confidence
Follow every rite in order, with counters and duas in Arabic, in our step by step Umrah guide. To study the Hanafi rulings behind it with qualified teachers, see our courses, or explore our apps. Ihya us Sunnah is sustained by its community, so please consider supporting our work.
This guide follows the Hanafi method and is based on Shaykh Mufti Wajid Iqbal's Umrah book, Essential Islam. For your own situation, ask a qualified scholar.