The Virtue of Sa‘i between Safa and Marwah
It is narrated from Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said,
“وَأَمَّا طَوَافُكَ بِالصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةِ كَعِتْقِ سَبْعِيْنَ رَقَبَةً”
‘When you perform Sa‘i between Safa and Marwah, it will bring the reward of freeing seventy slaves.’[1]
Perform the Sa‘i correctly according to the following method:
1. When you approach Mount Safa, say:
إِنَّ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةَ مِنْ شَعَائِرِ اللهِ، أَبْدَأُ بِمَا بَدَأَ اللهُ بِهِ.
(Innaṣ-Ṣafā wal-Marwata min sha‘ā’irillāh. Abda’u bimā bada’allāhu bihī.)
‘Indeed, Safa and Marwah are among the symbols of Allah. I begin with that with which Allah began.’[2]
2. Then ascend Mount Safa, stand facing the House of Allah,[3] and proclaim Allah’s oneness and greatness and praise Him, saying:
اللهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللهُ أَكْبَرُ، لاَ إِلهَ إِلاَّ اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لاَ شَرِيْكَ لَهُ، لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ اْلَحمْدُ يحيى ويميت وَهَوُ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيْرٌ، لاَ إِلهَ إِلاَّ اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لاَ شَرِيْكَ لَهُ، أَنْجَزَ وَعْدَهُ، وَنَصَرَ عَبْدَهُ، وَهَزَمَ الأَحْزَابَ وَحْدَهُ.
(Allāhu Akbar, Allāhu Akbar, Allāhu Akbar, lā ilāha illallāhu waḥdahū lā sharīka lahū, lahul-mulku wa lahul-ḥamdu, yuḥyī wa yumītu wa huwa ‘alā kulli shay’in qadīr. Lā ilāha illallāhu waḥdahū lā sharīka lahū, anjaza wa‘dahū, wa naṣara ‘abdahū, wa hazamal-aḥzāba waḥdah.)
‘Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest![4] There is no deity except Allah alone, with no partner. To Him belongs all sovereignty, and to Him belongs all praise. He gives life and causes death, and He has power over all things. There is no true deity except Allah alone, with no partner. He fulfilled His promise, helped His servant, and alone defeated the enemy forces.’[5]
3. Raise both hands when making du‘a.[6]
4. Recite the aforementioned du‘a, along with any du‘a beneficial for this world and the Hereafter, three times according to your ability. The method is as follows: Recite the above du‘a once and, along with it, recite other du‘as according to your ability. Then recite that du‘a again and, along with it, recite other du‘as. Do this three times. This is because the hadith clearly states: ‘Then he made du‘a in between them. He did the same three times.’[7] Various du‘as to be recited at Safa and Marwah have been narrated from the noble Companions (may Allah be pleased with them).[8]
5. After completing the du‘a on Mount Safa, proceed toward Marwah. Recite whatever du‘as come to mind and are easy for you. After descending from Safa and proceeding a short distance, you will see green lights above and to the right and left. This is called Batn al-Wadi (the hollow of the valley). In this area, male pilgrims should walk briskly, as though running. Upon reaching the next green-light marker, return to a normal walking pace. Women, however, should maintain their normal walking pace even in this area. While walking between the two green markers, recite the following du‘a:
“رَبِّ اغْفِرْ وَارْحَمْ، إِنَّكَ أَنْت َالأَعَزُّ الأَكْرَمُ”
(Rabbighfir warḥam, innaka antal-a‘azzul-akram.)
‘O my Lord, forgive me and have mercy on me. Indeed, You are the Mightiest and Most Honorable.’[9]
6. From here, walk at a normal pace and ascend Mount Marwah. When approaching Mount Marwah, you do not need to recite the verse that you recited before reaching Safa.
7. After ascending Marwah, face the Ka‘bah, raise both hands, and make du‘a there as you did at Safa, proclaiming Allah’s oneness and greatness and praising Him.[10]
8. While descending from Marwah and proceeding toward Safa, when you reach the green lights, begin walking briskly again. Upon reaching the next green light, return to a normal walking pace.
9. Upon reaching Mount Safa, face the Ka‘bah, raise both hands, and perform dhikr and make du‘a as before. Both Safa and Marwah are places where du‘as are accepted. Therefore, make a special effort to make du‘a at both places.
10. Complete the remaining circuits of Sa‘i in the same manner.
[1]. Sahih al-Targhib wa al-Tarhib: 1112.
[2]. Muslim: 1/888.
[3]. Muslim: 1218.
[4]. Nasa’i: 2/624; Musnad Ahmad: 3/388.
[5]. Nasa’i: 2/224; Muslim: 2/222.
[6]. Abu Dawud: 1/351.
[7]. Muslim: 2137.
[8]. For example, see Bayhaqi: 5/49–50.
[9]. Ibn Abi Shaybah: 4/68; Bayhaqi: 5/95; Tabarani, Al-Du‘a: 870; Albani, Hijjat al-Nabi, p. 120.
[10]. Nasa’i: 4792.