Sa'ee
There is no sa'ee after a nafl tawaaf or after Tawaaf-al-Wadaa.
The sa'ee comprises seven laps. The distance between Safaa and Marwah is about 450 meters (492 yards).
Starting at Safaa one proceeds to Marwah. This is one round.
From Marwah you return to Safaa (this is lap two) and so on, finishing lap seven at Marwah.
When you are in doubt about the number of rounds you have made, rely on the lesser number you remember.
Dua in your own language, dhikr, tasbih, are all acceptable forms of Ibadah while performing sa'ee.
Between the green lights (indicated on the side of the walls nearer to Safaa), the male pilgrims walk briskly (or run). Sometimes due to crowds it is impossible to do so. Also if you are taking care of elderly or female pilgrims, you can refrain from running between the green lit areas. Some male pilgrims run all the way from Safaa to Marwah. Maybe they are in a hurry, but this is contrary to the sunnah. Do not run near the zamzam containers as the floor is often wet and slippery.
Sa'ee MUST be interrupted for fardh salah and recommended for janazah salah. Resume from where you have stopped. If you stopped half way through one round, ensure that you continue at the right place. This is important if you stopped for salah and moved positions several times before the actual salah. So it is important to remember exactly where you have stopped, otherwise start that round again. If you are not sure about the number, remember that the sa'ee finishes at Marwah, hence you should take care of the numbers. If you are confused then count as follows. If you were going towards Marwah, then the count can either be 1, 3, 5 or 7, and if you were going towards Safaa, then it is 2, 4 or 6.
It is permissible to talk while performing sa'ee. Most scholars agree that one should only discuss necessary things and not merely engage in idle chat.
Avoid performing sa'ee in groups or following and reciting behind a leader. The Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) was the best of teachers and he did not lead anybody, or any group, in sa'ee, nor did he instruct his companions (may Allah be pleased with them) to do so. Avoid raising your voice while performing sa'ee.
It is preferable but not a requirement to have wudhu while performing sa'ee. With your back facing the Maqaam Ibraheem, Safaa is located towards your right. Also if you proceed straight towards the back of the Haram from the green light you will be going in the right direction. Sa'ee can also be performed in the basement and on the middle and roof areas.
Once again we suggest the roof area to be the best. However, the middle floor may be better if you are performing sa'ee during the day and it is hot. Sometimes the stairs to the upper floors of the sa'ee area are just as crowded as the sa'ee itself. If this is the case, we suggest you go outside the haram and enter from the outside to go to the roof or middle floor.
Many pilgrims make the mistake of counting from Safaa to Safaa as one lap. This means you will end up performing 14 laps. Try to picture the previous diagrams when you are in doubt.
Types of Sa'ee
Ø After Tawaaf for Umrah (1)
Ø After Tawaaf-al-Qudoom (2) (Sa'ee for Hajj, recommended at this point for the Qaarin and optional for the Mufrid)
Ø After Tawaaf-al-Ifadah (3) (For those performing the Tamattu method. Also for the Qaarin and Mufrid if they did not do it after Tawaaf-ul-Qudoom.)
There is no nafl sa'ee.
(1) & (2) You should be in Ihraam.
(3) Normally not in Ihraam, unless you perform it prior to the cutting of your hair.
How to Perform Sa'ee
Proceed to Safaa. When you get close to Safaa it is sunnah to say:
إِنَّ الصَّفَا وَ الْمَروَةَ مِنْ شَعَائِرِ اللهِ
“Innassafa walmarwata min sha’aa irillah”
Indeed Safaa and Marwah are among the signs of Allah
{Surah al-Baqarah (2), part of ayah 158}
Followed by saying:
أَبْدَأُ بِمَا بَدَأَ اللهُ بِهِ
“Abda’u bima bada’a Allahu bihi”
I begin with that which Allah has begun
Please note that both the above are only to be said ONCE, that is at the beginning of the Sa’ee and not at the beginning of every lap.
In case you wondered why the Sa'ee starts at Safaa; this is the answer…because Allah starts with it.
When ascending Safaa, go up until the Ka’bah is visible (if possible) and facing it, it is sunnah to repeat the following 3 times while raising your hands as in making dua (supplication), and not with your palms facing the Ka'bah. Also do not gesture towards the Ka'bah with your hands as in Tawaaf. In between these 3 times you may make your own supplications (i.e. say the following; supplicate; say the following; supplicate; say the following):
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ وَ لا إِلَهَ إِلا اللهُ وَ اللهُ أَكْبَرُ،
لا إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللهُ وَحْدَهُ َلا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، لَهُ المُلْكُ وَ لَهُ الحَمْدُ، يُحْيِي وَ يُمِيتُ وَ هُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيءٍ قَدِيرٌ، لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللهُ وَحْدَهُ أَنْجَزَ وَعْدَهُ، وَ نَصَرَ عَبْدَهُ، وَ هَزَمَ الأَحْزَابَ وَحْدَه
“Alhamdu lillah, la ilaha illallah, wallahu Akbar, Laa ilaha illallahu wahdahu la shareeka lahu, lahulmulk wa lahulhamd, yuhyee wa yumeetu wa Hua ala kulli shay’in qadeer. La ilaha illallahu wahdahu, anjaza wa’dah wa nassara abdah, wa hazamal ahzaaba wahda”
All praise is due to Allah, there is no God but Allah, and Allah is Greater. There is none worthy of worship but Allah alone, no partners are unto Him, His is the dominion (kingdom) and His is the praise. He gives life and He gives death and He is capable of everything. There is none worthy of worship but Allah alone, who fulfilled His promise and gave victory to His servant and defeated the confederates alone.
Walk towards Marwah. When you arrive at the green fluorescent light, the men should run briskly (if convenient), until the next green light. Women should NOT run
There is no prescribed supplication during the Sa’ee or between the two green lights, though you can supplicate and mention Allah as you like. It is also good to recite the Qur'an during the Sa’ee. There is nothing from the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) establishing any particular prayer during the Sa’ee, but it has been established that Ibn Masood and Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) used to say:
رَبِّ اغْفِرْ وَ ارْحَمْ وَأَنْتَ الأَعَزُّ الأَكْرَمُ
“Rabbighfir warham wa antal a’azul akram”
Oh Allah forgive me and have mercy upon me, for You are the most Mighty and Honourable.
Z But this is without any reference to any particular place where it should be said.
Upon reaching Marwah, the 1st lap is complete. Ascend Marwah, face the Ka'bah, and it is commendable to do what was done at Safaa.
Proceed back to Safaa (once again men run at the green lights if convenient). The 2nd lap is now complete. Repeat this procedure at Safaa and Marwah until you finish at Marwah, which should be your 7th lap.
There is no dua at the end of the 7th lap at Marwah.
Sa’ee is now complete.
At Marwah, and if you are performing sa'ee on the second floor or on the roof, you will not be able to see the Ka'bah, so you need to ensure that you face the correct direction while supplicating.
You will find people with scissors at Marwah, offering (for a small fee) to cut your hair. Many women opt for this, and by doing so, often expose their hair. It is better that they wait until they return to their rooms, and do it in privacy.
Men should also refrain from using this “service” as it causes them to cut only a few strands of hair.
