Resting during السعي is جائز عند all four schools of jurisprudence. A الحاج may sit down to rest between laps, drink water, or take a break for any genuine need without invalidating their السعي. When the iqamah for الصلاة is called, the الحاج should stop, pray, and then resume from where they left off. Continuity in السعي is مستحب but not a condition of validity.
Resting during السعي is جائز عند the consensus of scholars from all four schools of jurisprudence. A الحاج may sit down at الصفا, المروةh, or anywhere along the Mas'a corridor to rest, drink water, or recover from fatigue without invalidating their السعي. The continuity (muwalah) of السعي is مستحب (مستحب) but is not a condition (shart) for its validity عند جمهور العلماء.
الشيخ ابن عثيمين explicitly stated that taking breaks during السعي for rest, water, or to use the restroom is جائز, and the الحاج resumes from where they stopped. He noted that the Mas'a is a long corridor (approximately 450 meters each way), and performing seven complete laps is physically demanding, especially in the الحرارة. Islam does not impose unnecessary hardship, and resting is a natural and permitted response to fatigue.
If the iqamah for an واجب الصلاة is called during السعي, the الحاج should stop, join the congregational الصلاة, and then resume their السعي from the point where they stopped. الشيخ ابن باز confirmed this ruling, adding that resting on الصفا or المروةh to make دعاء (الدعاء) is actually from the السنة, as النبي used to make lengthy الأدعية while standing on الصفا and المروةh. The key point is that the الحاج must complete all seven laps — the breaks in between do not invalidate the previously completed laps.
النبي (صلى الله عليه وسلم) climbed upon الصفا until he could see the الكعبة, then he raised his hands and began to remember Allah and supplicate, and he stayed there for a long time.
النبي (صلى الله عليه وسلم) climbed upon الصفا until he could see the الكعبة, then he raised his hands and began to remember Allah and supplicate, and he stayed there for a long time.
النبي (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said: 'When the iqamah for الصلاة is called, there is no الصلاة except the واجب الصلاة.'
النبي (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said: 'When the iqamah for الصلاة is called, there is no الصلاة except the واجب الصلاة.'
Scholars from different schools of Islamic jurisprudence offer varying perspectives on this matter.
Resting during السعي is جائز. Continuity is not a condition. The الحاج may rest, drink, and resume without issue.
Al-Hidayah: continuity in السعي is السنة, not a condition of validity.
The Maliki school recommends continuity but permits breaks for genuine needs. Long delays without excuse may require restarting عند some Maliki scholars, but the prevailing view permits resuming.
Al-Mudawwanah: Imam Malik مستحب continuity but did not make it a strict condition.
Breaks during السعي are جائز and the الحاج resumes from where they stopped. The Shafi'i school is lenient on the issue of continuity in السعي.
Al-Majmu' by al-Nawawi: 'Continuity is not a condition for السعي, and breaks are جائز.'
The Hanbali school permits breaks during السعي. Continuity is مستحب but not a condition. Breaks for الصلاة, rest, and water are all valid reasons.
Al-Mughni by ابن قدامة: breaks during السعي do not invalidate it, and the الحاج resumes from where they stopped.
This is a scholarly summary, not a personal fatwa. Consult your scholar for personal rulings.
النبي (صلى الله عليه وسلم) climbed upon الصفا until he could see the الكعبة, then he raised his hands and began to remember Allah and supplicate, and he stayed there for a long time.
Sahih Muslim #1218 (sahih)النبي (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said: 'When the iqamah for الصلاة is called, there is no الصلاة except the واجب الصلاة.'
Sahih Muslim #710 (sahih)