رہنما

After completing طواف and its two rakaat نماز, proceed to Safa. Climb the hill until you can see the کعبۃ اللہ (or face its direction), raise your hands, and make دعا. Then begin walking toward Marwah — this journey from Safa to Marwah counts as one lap. Upon reaching Marwah, climb the hill, face the کعبۃ اللہ direction, and make دعا again. Then walk back to Safa — this is the second lap. Continue until you complete seven laps, ending at Marwah. The key distinction for women is in the green-lit section between the two green markers: men are instructed to jog or walk briskly in this section, but women walk at their normal pace throughout the entire corridor. This is by scholarly consensus. Supplicate with any دعا during the walk — there are no specific required دعائیں for each lap.

An important point that brings comfort to many women is that sa'i does not require ritual purity (taharah). This means a menstruating woman who cannot perform طواف may still perform sa'i if she has already completed طواف before menstruation began. However, a woman who began menstruating before طواف must wait until she is pure to perform both طواف and sa'i, as sa'i must follow طواف. Some scholars, particularly in the Shafi'i school, recommend performing وضو for sa'i as a مستحب (mustahabb) act, but it is not a condition of validity. This flexibility reflects the practical wisdom of Islamic jurisprudence in accommodating women's biological realities during حج.

The Mas'a (the enclosed corridor between Safa and Marwah) is approximately 395 meters long and is now a fully enclosed, air-conditioned structure integrated into the مسجد الحرام expansion. It has multiple levels: the ground floor, first floor, and upper levels. The ground floor tends to be the most crowded, while upper levels offer more space. Wheelchair-accessible paths are available on all levels. For women, the upper level is often the most comfortable choice, offering less physical contact with other حجاج and a calmer atmosphere for reflection. The walking distance per lap is the same on all levels. Electric carts are available on the ground floor for elderly or mobility-impaired حجاج. The corridor has clear directional markings and signs indicating the green marker sections, making it easy to follow the correct path.

سعی holds profound spiritual significance for women, as it reenacts the desperate search of Hajar (Hagar), wife of Prophet Ibrahim, as she ran between Safa and Marwah seeking water for her infant son Ismail. Her faith, perseverance, and trust in Allah during that moment of extreme vulnerability are literally enshrined in one of Islam's most sacred rituals. Every حاجی — male and female — walks in her footsteps, honoring a woman's act of devotion and sacrifice. This is a powerful reminder that feminine faith and courage are at the very heart of the حج and عمرہ experience. As you walk between the hills, reflect on Hajar's situation: alone in a barren valley with a helpless infant, she did not despair but took action, running back and forth, trusting that Allah would provide. And He did — the well of زمزم, which has flowed continuously for thousands of years, was the answer to her faith. Let this story inspire your own trust in Allah during your moments of difficulty and uncertainty.