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الصفا والمروة
الصفا and المروة are two small hills in مكة now enclosed within المسجد الحرام. Pilgrims walk between them seven times (السعي) during الحج and العمرة, commemorating Hajar's desperate search for water for her infant son Ismail. The 450-meter Mas'a corridor connecting them is air-conditioned and multi-leveled.
The hills of الصفا and المروة are inextricably linked to the story of Hajar (Hagar), the wife of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) and mother of Prophet Ismail (Ishmael). According to Islamic tradition, Ibrahim, acting upon divine command, left Hajar and her infant son Ismail in the barren valley of مكة with only a waterskin and a bag of dates. When the provisions ran out, Hajar, desperate for water to save her dying child, ran between the two hills seven times, climbing each to scan the horizon for any sign of water or travelers. During her seventh traverse, the angel Jibril (Gabriel) appeared and struck the ground near the infant Ismail with his heel (or wing), causing the miraculous spring of زمزم to gush forth. This event not only saved the lives of mother and child but also attracted the Jurhum tribe to settle in the area, establishing what would become the city of مكة. The القرآن immortalizes these hills in Surah al-Baqarah (2:158): 'Indeed, الصفا and المروة are among the symbols of Allah. So whoever makes الحج to the House or performs العمرة — there is no blame upon him for walking between them.' In pre-Islamic times, the pagan Quraysh had placed idols upon both hills — an idol named Isaf on الصفا and one named Na'ilah on المروة. Early Muslims initially hesitated to walk between the hills because of this association, which prompted the revelation of the above verse clarifying that السعي between الصفا and المروة is a legitimate and praiseworthy act of worship. النبي Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم) performed السعي during his Farewell الحج in 632 CE, firmly establishing it as an integral rite. The original hills were rocky outcrops of the Abu Qubays mountain (الصفا) and the Qa'iqa'an mountain (المروة). Over centuries of construction, the hills have been significantly reduced in size, though their bases remain in their original locations. The enclosed Mas'a (walking corridor) was first built by the Abbasid Caliph al-Mahdi in the 8th century CE. The modern Mas'a, constructed during the Saudi expansions, is a magnificent multi-story air-conditioned gallery approximately 450 meters long and 40 meters wide, with separate levels for السعي and return, plus a dedicated level for wheelchair users and the elderly.
السعي between الصفا and المروة is a واجب (واجب) rite of both الحج and العمرة عند جمهور العلماء, with the Shafi'i school considering it a ركن (pillar) without which the الحج is invalid. The ritual commemorates the unwavering trust in Allah (tawakkul) demonstrated by Hajar, a woman alone in a desolate valley with her helpless infant. Her persistence — running not once but seven times — despite seeing no apparent means of salvation, embodies the Islamic principle of combining trust in God with active effort. النبي Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said: 'Perform السعي, for indeed Allah has prescribed السعي for you' (Ahmad). Scholars note that Allah chose to immortalize the act of a mother's love and determination as a permanent rite of the greatest act of worship in Islam, elevating her story to be repeated by every الحاج until the Day of Judgment. The السعي thus carries profound lessons about perseverance, reliance on Allah, and the honored status of women and mothers in Islam.
The Mas'a corridor connecting الصفا and المروة is fully enclosed within المسجد الحرام and is accessible from the eastern side of the مسجد. السعي begins at الصفا and ends at المروة, with each one-way walk counting as one lap — seven laps total (four from الصفا to المروة, three from المروة to الصفا). The corridor is approximately 450 meters long, making the total السعي distance about 3.15 kilometers. Green fluorescent lights mark the section where men are مستحب to jog lightly (raml), commemorating Hajar's frantic running in the valley between the two hills. The Mas'a has four levels: the ground floor, first floor, second floor, and roof level. The upper levels tend to be less crowded and are مستحب for those who prefer a calmer experience. Wheelchair and electric scooter services are available, with a dedicated level for wheelchairs. زمزم water coolers are stationed at both ends and along the corridor. The entire Mas'a is air-conditioned and well-lit. Pilgrims should wear comfortable walking shoes and stay hydrated throughout السعي. There is no specific time restriction for performing السعي — it can be done at any hour. However, the corridor is busiest immediately after the five daily الصلوات and during the morning hours. For those performing العمرة, السعي is done immediately after الطواف. For الحج, the timing of السعي depends on whether one is performing الحج Tamattu', Qiran, or Ifrad.