The third rite
Sa'i between Safa and Marwah
إِنَّ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةَ مِنْ شَعَائِرِ اللّٰهِ
al-Baqarah 2:158
Sayyidah Hajar ran between these two hills searching for water for her son Ismail, until Allah brought out the spring of Zamzam. You walk where she walked, seven laps in all. Safa to Marwah counts as one and the way back counts as two, so you finish at Marwah.
Sa'i counter
Tap each time you reach a hill. The marker moves between Safa and Marwah so you always know which way you are walking.
The Sa'i counter appears here.
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
Go to Safa, which is now covered in tiles. You do not need to climb to the top of 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, as the Prophet ﷺ did. Then raise your hands to the shoulders as in dua, not to the ears as in salah, say Allahu akbar three times and the words of tahlil below, and ask Allah for whatever you need. Stay a while, for this is a place of answered dua.
The seven laps
Walk towards Marwah. Between the two sets of green lights brothers move at a light run while sisters keep walking, and this is where the dua Rabbi ighfir wa irham is recited. On reaching Marwah, face the Kaaba and do as you did on Safa. That is one lap. Walk back to Safa for the second, and so on, until the seventh lap brings you to Marwah. It is good to pray two rak'ahs in the masjid afterwards, and then to go and shave or shorten your hair.
Approaching Safa
إِنَّ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةَ مِنْ شَعَائِرِ اللّٰهِ، أَبْدَأُ بِمَا بَدَأَ اللّٰهُ بِهِ
Inna al-ṣafā wa al-marwata min shaʿāʾirillāh. Abdaʾu bimā badaʾa Allāhu bih
Indeed Safa and Marwah are among the symbols of Allah. I begin with what Allah began with.
Muslim
On Safa and Marwah
لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ، لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ وَحْدَهُ، أَنْجَزَ وَعْدَهُ، وَنَصَرَ عَبْدَهُ، وَهَزَمَ الْأَحْزَابَ وَحْدَهُ
Lā ilāha illā Allāhu waḥdahu lā sharīka lah, lahu al-mulku wa lahu al-ḥamd, wa huwa ʿalā kulli shayʾin qadīr. Lā ilāha illā Allāhu waḥdah, anjaza waʿdah, wa naṣara ʿabdah, wa hazama al-aḥzāba waḥdah
There is no god but Allah alone, without partner. His is the dominion and His is the praise, and He has power over all things. There is no god but Allah alone. He fulfilled His promise, gave victory to His servant and defeated the confederates alone.
Muslim, said three times with dua in between
Between the green lights
رَبِّ اغْفِرْ وَارْحَمْ إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ الْأَعَزُّ الْأَكْرَمُ
Rabbi ighfir wa irḥam, innaka anta al-aʿazzu al-akram
My Lord, forgive and have mercy. You are the Most Mighty, the Most Generous.
Reported from Ibn Masʿud and Ibn ʿUmar (Ibn Abi Shaybah)
Questions about Sa'i
Do I need wudu for Sa'i?
Wudu is not necessary for Sa'i, though it is better to be in wudu. A sister whose period begins after she has finished tawaf may still complete her Sa'i.
Can I use a wheelchair for Sa'i?
For one who is able, walking is necessary in the Hanafi school, so riding without a need calls for a penalty. The elderly, the unwell and anyone who cannot walk the distance may use a wheelchair or scooter, and nothing is due from them.
Can I rest during Sa'i?
Yes. Keeping the laps together is a sunnah, so a rest, a drink of Zamzam or a congregational prayer in the middle does not spoil your Sa'i. Continue from where you stopped.
What if I started my Sa'i at Marwah?
The first walk from Marwah to Safa does not count, because Sa'i begins at Safa. Count from Safa and add one more lap so that you finish at Marwah after seven.
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.
Arabic font: IndoPak Nastaleeq, provided by Quran Foundation.