Then proceed to the hill of Safa and climb it, or stand at its base. If possible, it is preferable to ascend partway up the hill. At the beginning of the first circuit, recite this statement of Allah:
﴿۞إِنَّ ٱلصَّفَا وَٱلۡمَرۡوَةَ مِن شَعَآئِرِ ٱللَّهِۖ﴾ [البقرة:158]
(Innaṣ-ṣafā wal-marwata min sha‘ā’irillāh)
“Indeed, Safa and Marwah are among the symbols of Allah.” [Surah Al-Baqarah: 158]
Then, facing the Ka‘bah, raise both hands like one making supplication, praise Allah Most High, and recite the takbir three times (say, “Allahu Akbar”). It is Sunnah to make supplication three times. Thereafter, recite the following supplication three times:
«لاَ إِلهَ إِلا اللهَ وَحْدَه لا شَرِيْكَ لَه لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَه الْحَمْدُ وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيْر لا إِلهَ إِلا الله وَحْدَه أَنْجَزَ وَعْدَه وَنَصَر عَبْدَه وَهَزَمَ الأَحْزَابَ وَحْدَه»
(Lā ilāha illallāhu waḥdahu lā sharīka lahu, lahul-mulku wa lahul-ḥamdu, wa huwa ‘alā kulli shay’in qadīr. Lā ilāha illallāhu waḥdahu, anjaza wa‘dahu, wa naṣara ‘abdahu, wa hazamal-aḥzāba waḥdahu)
“There is no true deity except Allah alone. He has no partner. All dominion and praise belong to Him, and He has power over all things. There is no true deity except Allah alone. He fulfilled His promise, granted victory to His servant, and alone defeated the enemy forces.”
There is no harm in reciting only part of this supplication. However, since the Shari‘ah instructs that abundant supplication be made here, you may make any supplication here.
Then descend from Safa and proceed toward Marwah. During Sa‘i, men should walk briskly between the two green lights and walk normally before and after them. Women should not walk briskly anywhere, because women must observe hijab, and brisk walking is contrary to women’s hijab.
Then, when you reach Marwah, climb it or stand at its base, praise Allah, and do there as you did at Safa. That is, after ascending Marwah, face the Ka‘bah, raise both hands like one making supplication, praise Allah Most High, and recite the takbir (Allahu Akbar) three times. Thereafter, recite the following supplication three times:
«لاَ إِلهَ إِلا اللهَ وَحْدَه لا شَرِيْكَ لَه لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَه الْحَمْدُ وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيْر لا إِلهَ إِلا الله وَحْدَه أَنْجَزَ وَعْدَه وَنَصَر عَبْدَه وَهَزَمَ الأَحْزَابَ وَحْدَه»
(Lā ilāha illallāhu waḥdahu lā sharīka lahu, lahul-mulku wa lahul-ḥamdu, wa huwa ‘alā kulli shay’in qadīr. Lā ilāha illallāhu waḥdahu, anjaza wa‘dahu, wa naṣara ‘abdahu, wa hazamal-aḥzāba waḥdahu)
“There is no true deity except Allah alone. He has no partner. All dominion and praise belong to Him, and He has power over all things. There is no true deity except Allah alone. He fulfilled His promise, granted victory to His servant, and alone defeated the enemy forces.”
Like Safa, Marwah is also a place for making abundant supplication. You may recite any supplication here.
However, do not recite here the Qur’anic verse mentioned at the beginning, because, in following the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, that verse is to be recited only when ascending the hill of Safa.
Then descend from Marwah. Walk normally where normal walking is prescribed, and walk briskly where brisk walking is prescribed. In this way, you will reach the hill of Safa. Complete Sa‘i seven times in this manner. Going from Safa to Marwah is one circuit, and returning from Marwah to the hill of Safa is another circuit. As with Tawaf, there is no harm if someone performs Sa‘i while riding on something, especially when necessary.
As with Tawaf, there is no specific obligatory dhikr for Sa‘i. Rather, one may recite whatever dhikr, supplication, and Qur’anic recitation is easy for them. However, it is recommended to observe the forms of dhikr and supplication authentically reported from the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, in this regard. Likewise, being in a state of purity from all ritual impurity is recommended. However, if someone performs Sa‘i while in a state of ritual impurity, their Sa‘i will be valid; there is no problem.
How to Perform Umrah in the Light of the Qur’an and Sunnah — Dr. Abu Bakr Muhammad Zakaria