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الصفا والمروة
Safa and Marwa are two small hills in Makkah now enclosed within Masjid al-Haram. Pilgrims walk between them seven times (Sa'i) during Hajj and Umrah, 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 Safa and Marwa 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 Makkah 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 Zamzam 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 Makkah. The Quran immortalizes these hills in Surah al-Baqarah (2:158): 'Indeed, Safa and Marwa are among the symbols of Allah. So whoever makes Hajj to the House or performs Umrah — 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 Safa and one named Na'ilah on Marwa. Early Muslims initially hesitated to walk between the hills because of this association, which prompted the revelation of the above verse clarifying that Sa'i between Safa and Marwa is a legitimate and praiseworthy act of worship. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) performed Sa'i during his Farewell Hajj in 632 CE, firmly establishing it as an integral rite. The original hills were rocky outcrops of the Abu Qubays mountain (Safa) and the Qa'iqa'an mountain (Marwa). 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 Sa'i and return, plus a dedicated level for wheelchair users and the elderly.
Sa'i between Safa and Marwa is a wajib (obligatory) rite of both Hajj and Umrah according to the majority of scholars, with the Shafi'i school considering it a rukn (pillar) without which the pilgrimage 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. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'Perform Sa'i, for indeed Allah has prescribed Sa'i 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 pilgrim until the Day of Judgment. The Sa'i thus carries profound lessons about perseverance, reliance on Allah, and the honored status of women and mothers in Islam.
The Mas'a corridor connecting Safa and Marwa is fully enclosed within Masjid al-Haram and is accessible from the eastern side of the mosque. Sa'i begins at Safa and ends at Marwa, with each one-way walk counting as one lap — seven laps total (four from Safa to Marwa, three from Marwa to Safa). The corridor is approximately 450 meters long, making the total Sa'i distance about 3.15 kilometers. Green fluorescent lights mark the section where men are recommended 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 recommended for those who prefer a calmer experience. Wheelchair and electric scooter services are available, with a dedicated level for wheelchairs. Zamzam 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 Sa'i. There is no specific time restriction for performing Sa'i — it can be done at any hour. However, the corridor is busiest immediately after the five daily prayers and during the morning hours. For those performing Umrah, Sa'i is done immediately after tawaf. For Hajj, the timing of Sa'i depends on whether one is performing Hajj Tamattu', Qiran, or Ifrad.