Loading...
| Arabic | سَعْي |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | SA-ee |
| Etymology | From the Arabic root س-ع-ي (s-a-y), meaning to walk, strive, endeavor, or exert effort. Sa'ee captures both the physical act of walking and the spiritual concept of striving in Allah's path, mirroring Hajar's determined effort to sustain her child. |
Sa'ee(سَعْي) Sa'ee is the ritual walking between the hills of Safa and Marwa seven times, performed as part of both Hajj and Umrah. It commemorates Hajar's search for water and is considered a pillar (Rukn) of the pilgrimage.
سَعْي
Sa'ee (alternatively transliterated as Sa'i) is one of the essential rites of both Hajj and Umrah. The ritual retraces the footsteps of Hajar (Hagar), the wife of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham), who ran desperately between the hills of Safa and Marwa seeking water for her thirsty infant son Ismail. After running back and forth seven times, the angel Jibreel struck the ground (or Ismail's heel struck it), and the well of Zamzam miraculously gushed forth — a spring that flows to this day. The Sa'ee begins at Safa and proceeds to Marwa (counting as one lap), then back to Safa (lap two), continuing until the seventh lap ends at Marwa. The total distance traversed is approximately 3.15 kilometers. Between the two hills, green fluorescent markers indicate the valley area where Hajar ran most urgently — men are encouraged to jog lightly between these markers, while women walk at their normal pace. At the top of each hill, the pilgrim faces the Kaaba, raises their hands, and makes dua. Sa'ee must be preceded by a valid Tawaf; performing it before Tawaf is invalid according to the majority of scholars.
From the Arabic root س-ع-ي (s-a-y), meaning to walk, strive, endeavor, or exert effort. Sa'ee captures both the physical act of walking and the spiritual concept of striving in Allah's path, mirroring Hajar's determined effort to sustain her child.
Download IhramOS — your complete pilgrimage companion
Works without internet — perfect for Hajj