Sa'y The Running in Hajj and Umrah Rites

Literally, Sa'i means to run or make an effort, but Islamically it refers to the walk made between Mount Safaa and Mount Marwah performed in either 'Umrah or Hajj. The rite of Sa'yi is in commemoration of Haajar's search and struggle to find water which caused her to run between the two Mounts of Safaa and Marwah. In pre-Islamic days, the Arabs had built shrines for their gods on Safaa and Marwah; thus, Muslims were, at first, hesitant to have anything to do with the mounts during 'Umrah or Hajj until Allah revealed the verse: Verily as-Safaa and al-Marwah are themselves among the Shrines of Allah. (2:158) When the pilgrim first reaches Safaa, he should recite the following verse: إن الصفا والمروة من شعائر الله Innas-Safaa wal-Marwata min Sha'a-airil-laah.   Verily as-Safaa and al-Marwah are among the shrines of Allah. (2:158)

One should then climb the hill and say: لا إله إلا الله والله أكبر Laa ilaaha il-lal-laah wal-laahu akbar (There is no God but Allah and He is the Greatest.) لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له Laa ilaah il-lal-laahu wah-dahu laa shareeka lah. (There is nothing worthy of worship but Allah, who is without partner.) له الملك وله الحمد وهو على كل شيء قدير Lahul-mulk walahul-hamd wa huwa 'ala kulli shay'in Qadeer. (His is the kingdom, all praise is due to Him and He is able to do all things.) لا إله إلا الله وحده Laa ilaaha il-lal-laahu wah-dah. (There is nothing worthy of worship but Allah alone.) أنجز وعده ونصر عبده وهزم الأحزاب وحده anjaza wa'dah, wa nasara 'abdah, wa hazamal-Ahzaaba wah-dah. (He has fulfilled his promise, helped His servant and defeated the clans (of disbelievers) all by Himself)."

It was the Prophet's (صلى الله عليه وسلم) practice to repeat this Du'aa three times. Then the pilgrim should make his or her own private Du'aa before descending Mount Safaa and heading for Marwah. One should walk between Safaa and Marwah 7 times, and say the previously mentioned Du'aas at the top of each hill. The Sa'yi begins with Safaa and ends with Marwah.

There are two green pillars indicating the bottom of the valley between the two hills of Safaa and Marwah. It was the practice of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) to run over that distance. This running is only slightly faster than the fast walk known as Ramal, which is done in the first three circuits of Tawaaf. It is preferable that the Muhrim be in a state of Tahaarah while making Sa'yi, but it is permissible to do so without it.

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Advice To Pilgrims | A Step by step Hajj and 'Umrah | Adhkar (Pertaining to the remembrance of Allah) | A Lasting Word For Hajj And 'Umrah | An Account of the Miqat | An Account of visiting the Prophet's Mosque | Ayaam at-Tashreeq | Binding on the pilgrim to refrain from sins | Command about the Menstruating and similar women | Conditional Ihram | Day by Day Rites of Hajj - Day One | Day by Day Rites of Hajj - Day Two | Day by Day Rites of Hajj - Day Three | Day by Day Rites of Hajj - Day Four | Day by Day Rites of Hajj - Day Five | Day by Day Rites of Hajj - Day Six | Day of Arafah | Day to Day Activities of Hajj | Dhabh | Duties of pilgrims at 'Arafah | Entering Mecca | Entering Al-Masjid-al-Haram (the Sacred Mosque) and Tawaf | Errors Often Committed by Pilgrims | Etiquette of Ihram | Etiquette of Visiting the Prophet's (P.B.U.H) Grave | Farewell Pilgrimage of the Messenger of Allah | Farewell Tawaf | Farewell Tawaf is binding on everyone except the menstruating and women with post childbirth bleeding | Fixed time for Hajj | Fixed time for Hajj | Four Khutbahs in Hajj | Hajj in Pre-Islamic Times | Hajj of a woman | Hajj, Umrah & Ziyarah At a Glance | Halq or Qass | Halq or Qasr: Shaving or Clipping | Ihram | Ihram for youngsters | Ihram: Introduction And Significance | Innovations of `Arafah | Innovations Before Ihraam | Innovations of Hajj, `Umra and Visiting Madinah | Innovations of Ihraam and Talbiyyah, etc. | Innovations of Muzdalifah | Innovations of Sacrifice and Shaving the Head | Innovations of Sa'y Between Safaa and Marwah | Innovations of Stoning | Innovations of Tawaaf | Innovations of Visiting Madinat-ul-Munawwarah | Innovations of Visiting Bait-ul-Maqdis | Innovations: Various Innovations | Istilaam | Kinds of Ihram | Leaving Arafah to spend night in Al Muzdalefah | Many `Umrahs after Hajj is not encouraged by the Shari`ah | Maqaam Ibraaheem | Meeqaat | Merits of Hajj | Merits of 'Umrah | Minaa | Neglecting and delaying the throwing of pebbles | No Specific Supplication for Tawaf and Sa'y | Not allowed to shave the beard | Not obligatory to visit the Prophet's Mosque | Objective of Hajj - To seek the Divine Pleasure | Obligations during Hajj and Umrah | Performing Hajj on behalf of others | Permitted and Forbidden things in the State of Ihram | Pilgrim with Sacrificial Animal in the month of Hajj should intend Qiran (accompanied Hajj) and the one | Pillars of Hajj | Prayers at Arafah | Preparations for Hajj, Umrah and travelling to the holy lands | Preparing for Hajj or 'Umrah | Prerequisites and Sunnahs of valid Tawaf | Ramy | Reaching Miqat at a Time other than the Hajj Season | Regulations Concerning Hady (Sacrificial animals) | Restrictions of Ihram | Rites, obligations and Sunnahs of Umrah | Sa'y | Sa'y between Safa and Marwah | Sa'y and its rituals | Sacrificial animals | Shaving or clipping hair | Sunnah and allowed throwing | Sunnahs of Tawaf | Supplication at the beginning of the journey | Supplication on entering the Mosque | Supplications at Arafah | Supplications: Some All-Inclusive Supplications | Supplications: Some Supplications which may Be Recited At 'Arafat, at the Sacred Sites, and at Other Places of Supplication | Talbeeyah | Tawaaf | Tawaaf al-Ifaadah | Throwing Al Jemar | Throwing pebbles on behalf of other people | Types of Hajj | Umrah | Veiling and giving up the display of beauty is compulsory for women | Verdict on spending the night at Mina | Visitation of the Prophet's Mosque | Visiting Al-Masjid Al-Nabawi | Visiting Quba Mosque and Al-Baqi' cemetery | What a Pilgrim should do when he reaches the Miqat | What Is Required of the Pilgrims | What is allowed to a Muhrim | Where to pick the pebbles from and the number and size of pebbles | Woman's Hajj with Mahram, expenses of Hajj, taking husband's permission | Woman may enter into the Ihram in any dress | Wuqoof 'Arafaat | Wuqoof Muzdalifah | Zamzam