A mother, alone in the scorching, barren desert, with her few-months-old baby. Desperately running between the two hills, Safa and Marwa, searching for a way to sustain her child.
No food, no water.
Only trust in Allah.
And that was enough for her.
Enough for her story, her struggle, and her steps to be remembered and reenacted by millions every year, for over fourteen centuries.
Indeed, the hills of Safa and Marwa are among the symbols of Allah. So whoever makes the major or minor pilgrimage to the Sacred House, let them walk between the two hills.
Let us reflect on Sa’i, and how one woman’s Iman lives on in every step and every heartfelt Safa and Marwa dua.
Dua For Safa and Marwa: What to Say During Sa’i Step-by-Step
Knowing the right dua for Safa and Marwa is essential when performing Sa’i during Umrah or Hajj. These authentic supplications, often called doa sai, Sa’i dua, or Dua for Sa’i were practiced by the Prophet ﷺ.
This step-by-step guide explains exactly what to Sa’i at each point, so you can follow the correct Dua at Safa Marwa clearly and confidently.
Starting Sa’i After Tawāf
After completing tawaf and praying two rakats behind Maqam Ibrahim, the pilgrim proceeds to begin Sa’i, the ritual of walking between Mount Safa and Mount Marwa.
What to Sa’i When Reaching Safa (First Time Only)
As the Prophet ﷺ approached Mount Safa, he recited the following verse:
إِنَّ ٱلصَّفَا وَٱلْمَرْوَةَ مِن شَعَآئِرِ ٱللَّهِ ۖ فَمَنْ حَجَّ ٱلْبَيْتَ أَوِ ٱعْتَمَرَ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْهِ أَن يَطَّوَّفَ بِهِمَا ۚ وَمَن تَطَوَّعَ خَيْرًۭا فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ شَاكِرٌ عَلِيمٌ
“Indeed, Safa and Marwa are among the symbols of Allah.”
Then he added:
“Abdaʾu bimā badā Allāhu bih”
“I begin with what Allah began with.”
What not to do: This verse is recited only once, the first time a pilgrim climbs Safa. It is important to remember not to repeat this Dua at Safa Marwa again at Marwa, or during any of the remaining rounds. Even when returning to Safa in later circuits, this Dua for Safa Marwa is not to be recited again.
On Top of Safa: Dhikr and Dua
After climbing until he could see the Kaʿbah, the Prophet ﷺ:
- Faced the Kaʿbah
- Raised his hands
- Said “Allāhu Akbar” three times
- Then said the following supplication (in Arabic):
“Lā ilāha illā Allāh waḥdahu lā sharīka lah,
lahu-l-mulk wa-lahu-l-ḥamd,
wa-huwa ʿalā kulli shayʾin qadīr.
Lā ilāha illā Allāh waḥdahu,
anjaza waʿdahu,
wa naṣara ʿabdahu,
wa hazama al-aḥzāba waḥdah.”
This means:
“None has the right to be worshipped except Allah alone, without any partner. To Him belongs all sovereignty and praise, and He is over all things capable. He fulfilled His promise, aided His servant, and single-handedly defeated the confederates.”
The Prophet ﷺ repeated this saee dua three times, making personal Dua between each repetition. This is the core of the Dua for saee, and it is the most authentic and beloved Dua for Safa and Marwa based on the Prophet’s ﷺ practice.
Walking to Marwa and What to Repeat
Then, the Prophet ﷺ walked to Marwa. On arriving there, he did the same:
- Faced the Kaʿbah
- Said “Allāhu Akbar” three times
- Repeated the same duʿāʾ three times, making supplications between them
Importantly, he did not repeat the Qur’anic verse here or in the rounds that followed.
Completing the Seven Rounds
The walk from Safa to Marwa counts as one round. Then the walk back from Marwa to Safa counts as the second round and so on. You continue this pattern until you finish a total of seven rounds, ending on Marwa. It’s important to note that each one-way walk is a full round by itself. The Prophet ﷺ maintained this structure during his Sa’i, and it remains the correct method according to his Sunnah.
Throughout the Sa’i, you may continue to make personal supplications and engage in dhikr. There is no prescribed dua for Sa’i between the hills, so you are free to ask Allah for anything from your heart. The repeated dua for Safa and Marwa, which the Prophet ﷺ made while standing on the two hills, is only recited when reaching each hill, not during the walk itself.
Mistakes to Avoid During Sa’i: A Guide for Pilgrims
Small mistakes often out of confusion or lack of knowledge can affect the experience or even the validity of the ritual. Here are the most common errors to avoid when making Sa’i between Safa and Marwa:
Counting a Back-and-Forth Trip as One Round
A common mistake is thinking that walking from Safa to Marwa and back counts as one round. In truth, each one-way trip is a round on its own.
The correct breakdown is:
- Safa to Marwa – Round 1
- Marwa to Safa – Round 2
- Safa to Marwa – Round 3
- Marwa to Safa – Round 4
- Safa to Marwa – Round 5
- Marwa to Safa – Round 6
- Safa to Marwa – Round 7 (ends at Marwa)
Your final round must end at Marwa, not Safa. Miscounting may invalidate the Sa’i. Keep track mentally or with a counter, and perform your doa sai with focus and humility.
Repeating the Qur’anic Verse More Than Once
The verse:
“Indeed, Safa and Marwa are among the symbols of Allah”
is to be recited only once, when first ascending Safa. It should not be repeated at Marwa or in later rounds.
Skipping the Supplication at Each Hill
The Prophet ﷺ would face the Kaʿbah at each hill, raise his hands, and Sa’i:
“Lā ilāha illā Allāh waḥdahu lā sharīka lah…”
This Sa’i dua was repeated three times with personal supplications in between. Omitting or rushing through this part is a lost opportunity for spiritual reflection.
Jogging the Entire Path (or Not Jogging at All for Men)
Men are required to jog only between the two green markers. Jogging beyond this or missing it entirely goes against the Sunnah. Women should walk normally throughout.
Beginning Sa’i Before Completing Tawaf Properly
Sa’i should only begin after finishing the seven rounds of tawaf and praying two rakats behind Maqam Ibrahim. Skipping this order is a mistake and may affect the validity of your Umrah or Hajj.
The Legacy of Hajar: Origins of the Sa’i Ritual
A Sacred Separation in a Barren Land
Long before Makkah became the heart of the Muslim world, it was a barren, lifeless valley. It was empty of people, water, or shelter.
And this was the place Allah commanded Prophet Ibrahim (AS) to leave his wife Hajar (AS) and newborn son Isma’il (AS). So, Ibrahim (AS) brought them to that valley and set up camp.
After a while, he started to leave the place without Sa’iing anything.
Hajar (AS) began following him, Sa’iing:
O Ibrahim! Where are you going, leaving us in this valley with no people or anything?
She repeated it multiple times, but he did not reply.
Then she asked:
Has Allah commanded you to do this?
He replied:
Yes.
She said:
Then Allah will not abandon us.
Then Ibrahim (AS) prayer to allah –
Our Lord! I have settled some of my offspring in a barren valley, near Your Sacred House, our Lord, so that they may establish prayer. So make the hearts of ˹believing˺ people incline towards them and provide them with fruits, so perhaps they will be thankful.
Then he left them with a few dates and a small water skin containing water. But this was just enough for a day.
A Mother’s Desperate Search
On the next day, the child and the mother became very thirsty. Hajar (AS) didn’t wait for any miracle to happen. She left her newborn son alone in the desert and started looking for help.
Since there was no water or food nearby, she was looking for any people around. So, she climbed the nearest mountain, Al-Safa. Finding no one, she went to the north to see if there was anyone there and again climbed a hill, Al-Marwa.
She went to those high grounds so she could have a better view of the valley. Then she went back to her son to check on him. But she figured that her best chances were to keep looking for people from those high grounds. And she ran between Safa and Marwa seven times.
Her Struggle, Our Ritual: How Sa’i Became Worship
This desperate act of a mother running between two lonely hills under the blazing sun, holding onto nothing but faith was so beloved to Allah that He turned it into worship. Her struggle, her fear, her hope, and her complete trust in Allah were not forgotten. They were honored.
The Mercy of Zamzam
When Hajar (AS) reached Marwa for the seventh time, she heard a voice. She told herself to be quiet and listened attentively. Hearing the voice again, she called out:
“O, (whoever you may be)! You have made me hear your voice; have you got something to help me?”
And behold! She saw an angel at the place of Zamzam, digging the earth with his heel (or his wing), until water flowed from that place. Hajar (AS) began making something like a basin around it with her hands and started filling her water-skin. The Prophet ﷺ said:
“May Allah bestow mercy on Isma’il’s mother! Had she let the Zamzam flow without trying to control it, Zamzam would have been a stream flowing on the surface of the earth.”
Then she drank the water and suckled her child. The angel said to her:
“Don’t be afraid of being neglected, for this is the House of Allah which will be built by this boy and his father. And Allah never neglects His people.”
The Sacred Record
This is a section from a large hadith Sahih al-Bukhari 3364. This hadith shares much more than what’s written here and it’s beautifully easy to understand. It’s not just a record of events, but a reflection of faith, trust, and divine mercy preserved through generations.
The Spiritual Significance of Sa’i
As you walk between Safa and Marwa, the air changes. You may not see it, but you can almost hear the cry of a thirsty child deep in your chest. It echoes the fear and pain Hajar felt alone, her baby crying, no water in sight.
Her steps weren’t just movement. They were a mother’s plea, driven by faith when nothing else was left. Sa’i is not just a ritual. It is the trace of her struggle, and the living proof of trust in Allah. Here’s what we learn from her unwavering trust and tireless action.
Have Faith in Allah, Even When Everything Feels Empty
Hajar stood alone in a barren valley—no people, no roof, no water, and a baby crying in her arms. Yet she didn’t complain. She didn’t panic. Her heart was anchored in faith. She didn’t ask, “Why me?” She trusted the One who brought her there.
“And whoever puts their trust in Allah, then He ˹alone˺ is sufficient for them.”
This verse teaches us what Hajar lived when you rely on Allah, He becomes your shelter, your answer, your everything.
Take Action Like Hajar Did
Hajar didn’t sit still hoping for a miracle. She ran between Safa and Marwa—once, twice, seven times. Exhausted and afraid, but never frozen. Her faith wasn’t passive. It was active, full of movement and urgency.
Tie it and rely(upon Allah).
This Hadith reflects Hajar’s approach. She did everything she could, trusting Allah with the result. True reliance means striving with what you have, even when you’re unsure of the outcome.
Trust Allah’s Plan, Even When You Don’t See It
Hajar never imagined that her desperate search would result in the well of Zamzam—a spring that flows to this day. She was just trying to save her child. But Allah had a plan far greater than what she could see.
“Allah is the best of planners”
What feels like a dead end may actually be the opening of a divine door. Hajar’s trust gave birth to a miracle—proof that when you trust Allah fully, He gives more than you ask.
Conclusion
Sa’i is not just a ritual, it’s a walk of faith. Hajar moved with trust, and Allah responded with a miracle. As you walk between Safa and Marwa, carry her spirit: have faith, take action, and trust that Allah sees your effort and He will provide in ways you never expected.