Resting during sa'i is boleh according to all four schools of jurisprudence. A jamaah haji may sit down to rest between laps, drink water, or take a break for any genuine need without invalidating their sa'i. When the iqamah for shalat is called, the jamaah haji should stop, pray, and then resume from where they left off. Continuity in sa'i is sunnah but not a condition of validity.
Resting during sa'i is boleh according to the consensus of scholars from all four schools of jurisprudence. A jamaah haji may sit down at Safa, Marwah, or anywhere along the Mas'a corridor to rest, drink water, or recover from fatigue without invalidating their sa'i. The continuity (muwalah) of sa'i is sunnah (mustahab) but is not a condition (shart) for its validity menurut jumhur ulama.
Sheikh Ibn Uthaymeen explicitly stated that taking breaks during sa'i for rest, water, or to use the restroom is boleh, and the jamaah haji 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 panas. Islam does not impose unnecessary hardship, and resting is a natural and permitted response to fatigue.
If the iqamah for an wajib shalat is called during sa'i, the jamaah haji should stop, join the congregational shalat, and then resume their sa'i from the point where they stopped. Sheikh Ibn Baz confirmed this ruling, adding that resting on Safa or Marwah to make doa (doa) is actually from the Sunnah, as Nabi used to make lengthy doa-doa while standing on Safa and Marwah. The key point is that the jamaah haji must complete all seven laps — the breaks in between do not invalidate the previously completed laps.
Nabi (shallallahu alaihi wa sallam) climbed upon Safa until he could see the Kabah, then he raised his hands and began to remember Allah and supplicate, and he stayed there for a long time.
Nabi (shallallahu alaihi wa sallam) climbed upon Safa until he could see the Kabah, then he raised his hands and began to remember Allah and supplicate, and he stayed there for a long time.
Nabi (shallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: 'When the iqamah for shalat is called, there is no shalat except the wajib shalat.'
Nabi (shallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: 'When the iqamah for shalat is called, there is no shalat except the wajib shalat.'
Scholars from different schools of Islamic jurisprudence offer varying perspectives on this matter.
Resting during sa'i is boleh. Continuity is not a condition. The jamaah haji may rest, drink, and resume without issue.
Al-Hidayah: continuity in sa'i is Sunnah, not a condition of validity.
The Maliki school recommends continuity but permits breaks for genuine needs. Long delays without excuse may require restarting according to some Maliki scholars, but the prevailing view permits resuming.
Al-Mudawwanah: Imam Malik sunnah continuity but did not make it a strict condition.
Breaks during sa'i are boleh and the jamaah haji resumes from where they stopped. The Shafi'i school is lenient on the issue of continuity in sa'i.
Al-Majmu' by al-Nawawi: 'Continuity is not a condition for sa'i, and breaks are boleh.'
The Hanbali school permits breaks during sa'i. Continuity is sunnah but not a condition. Breaks for shalat, rest, and water are all valid reasons.
Al-Mughni by Ibn Qudamah: breaks during sa'i do not invalidate it, and the jamaah haji resumes from where they stopped.
This is a scholarly summary, not a personal fatwa. Consult your scholar for personal rulings.
Nabi (shallallahu alaihi wa sallam) climbed upon Safa until he could see the Kabah, then he raised his hands and began to remember Allah and supplicate, and he stayed there for a long time.
Sahih Muslim #1218 (sahih)Nabi (shallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: 'When the iqamah for shalat is called, there is no shalat except the wajib shalat.'
Sahih Muslim #710 (sahih)