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Sacred space and pilgrimageWorship and the pillars
Sa'i in the language is purpose, work, walking or running; technically it is covering the distance between Safa and Marwa seven times back and forth, after tawaf, in the rites of Hajj or Umrah — per the Kuwaiti fiqh encyclopaedia. Its foundation is Book and Sunna: 'Indeed Safa and Marwa are among the rites of God', and the Prophet ﷺ went between them in his Hajj saying 'Go (sa'u), for God has prescribed sa'i upon you'; the law laid it on the pattern of Hajar's going between them seven times seeking water for her son — 'that is the people's sa'i between them'. On its ruling the Malikis, Shafi'is and Hanbalis in the relied view hold it a pillar of Hajj and Umrah, and the prior tawaf a condition of its validity.
Overview
Sa'y is walking or hastening with purpose; in usage, covering the distance between Safa and Marwa seven times back and forth after a tawaf, in the rites of hajj or 'umra. 1
Its origin
Its prescription rests on Book and Sunna: "Safa and Marwa are among God's rites," and the Prophet ﷺ's sa'y in his hajj with "do sa'y, for God has prescribed it for you"; the law modelled it on Hajar's running between them seven times seeking water for her son — "that is the people's sa'y between them." 2
Ruling
The Malikis, Shafi'is and Hanbalis in their relied-upon view hold sa'y an integral of hajj and 'umra; prior tawaf is a condition of its validity. 2
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Connections
People and things also explored
Muwatta, Book of Pilgrimage (hajj)· Tawaf (circling the Kaaba)· Umrah· Hajj (the pilgrimage to Mecca)· Aisha bint Abi Bakr· Malik ibn Anas· Jabir ibn Abdullah· Ja'far ibn Muhammad al-Sadiq
Sources
- al-Mawsu'a al-Fiqhiyya al-Kuwaitiyya, Noor-Book copy (file named v3) , p.9584
- al-Mawsu'a al-Fiqhiyya al-Kuwaitiyya, Noor-Book copy (file named v3) , p.9585
- Tanzil Project, Qur'an text v1.1
Cite this page
islam.museum contributors. “Sa'i (walking between Safa and Marwa)”. islam.museum, https://islam.museum/en/practice/sai/. CC BY-SA 4.0. Last updated 2026-10-26.