Safa and Marwa – Everything You Need To Know

The religious obligations of Hajj and Umrah hold great significance in Islam. Every year, millions of Muslim pilgrims embark on these major religious journeys. The reward for performing Hajj and Umrah is immense, and with this sincere hope, Muslims strive throughout their life with a will to visit the House of Allah SWT—the Holy Kaaba.

Both religious acts comprise several rituals and religious offerings. One of the well-renowned rituals of Hajj and Umrah entails walking or jogging between the hills of Safa and Marwa. This is an integral part of the Islamic ritual, and its significance cannot be denied. Here is everything you need to know about the Mounts of Safa and Marwa.

What Is Safa and Marwa?

Located in the long galley that is a part of Masjid Al-Haram, Safa and Marwa are two historical hills which are connected to the larger mountains, Abu Qubays and Qaiqan in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. Safa and Marwa are an integral part of the religious acts of Hajj and Umrah as Muslim pilgrims are commanded to walk between the two hills in order to commemorate Hajer (RA)’s commitment to her son, Prophet Ismail (AS), in such harsh circumstances and her unwavering devotion to the command of Allah SWT.

During the Umrah and Hajj pilgrimages, Muslim pilgrims are required to travel back and forth seven times between the mountains of Safa and Marwa. This ritual is commonly known as Sa’i, linguistically meaning walking, pursuing, or striving. It is a Sunnah to perform Sa’i, and hence every pilgrim should perform the Umrah and Hajj correctly by embarking upon this ritual.

What Is the Distance Between Safa and Marwa?

The historical hills of Safa and Marwa are known as the symbols of Allah SWT. And so, for both minor (Umrah) and major pilgrimages (Hajj), it is considered mandatory to jog or walk between the two hills. The Sacred Kaaba is the center point between the mounts of Safa and Marwa. Moreover, the estimated distance between Safa and Marwa is approximately 450 meters or 1,480 feet. However, when we talk about the seven rounds of Sa’i, the distance between the mountains is approximately 1.96 miles (3.15 kilometers).

Both the mounts of Safa and Marwa and the path in the middle of both the hills are located in the long corridor of Masjid Al-Haram, the Grand Mosque. The distance travelled from Safa to Marwa constitutes a major ritual of the Umrah and Hajj pilgrimage.

Why Are Safa and Marwa Important in Islam?

The act of running between Safa and Marwa is one of the main rituals of Umrah and Hajj pilgrimages, hence both hills are very significant in the religion of Islam. According to the Islamic teachings, pilgrims are instructed to walk between the mountains of Safa and Marwa in the same manner as performed by Prophet Muhammad PBUH and his fellow companions during the farewell pilgrimage.

The story of Safa and Marwa is a clear depiction of Hajer (RA)’s unwavering devotion and faith in Allah SWT and her commitment to her son, Prophet Ismail (AS), in such harsh circumstances. Therefore, pilgrims going to Umrah and Hajj are advised to remember this story while traveling back and forth between the hills of Safa and Marwa to commemorate Hajer (RA)’s love for her son and belief in Allah SWT.

In other words, the ritual of Sa’i depicts the lifelong challenges that a person may encounter. It also teaches us to remain steadfast, to keep on trying and maintaining faith in Allah SWT no matter how hard it gets; its as though He helped Hajer (RA) by making the impossible possible; and He will help you as well. In short, the ritual of Safa and Marwa is a time for Muslims to meditate and reflect upon their presence in the physical world.

Where Are Safa and Marwa Located?

Safa and Marwa are two historical mounts that are situated in Masjid Al-Haram in the holy city of Makkah, adjacent to the Sacred Kaaba. These two hills of Marwa and Safa are conjoined with the two bigger mountains of Qaiqan and Abu Qubays, respectively.

How Long Does It Take to Walk from Safa to Marwa?

The total distance between Safa and Marwa is 1.96 miles or 3.15 kilometers. It takes around 10 minutes to walk from Safa to Marwa and then from Marwa to Safa. However, the duration to recite adhkaar or make Dua at any of the two mounts can be roughly 8 minutes. Therefore, according to our time estimate, it can take up to 2 hours and 45 minutes to complete the ritual of Sa’i between Safa and Marwa seven times.

What to Recite Between Safa and Marwa?

Although there is no specific set of prayers to recite as a pilgrim travels from one mount to another. A pilgrim may utter the following Dua when walking between Safa and Marwa. It should specifically be recited between Milayn al-Akhdharayn (the two green posts, today signified by green lights on the wall/ceiling), this was also recited by Abdullah ibn Umar (RA):

رَبِّ اغْفِرْ وَارْحَمْ، تَجَاوَزْ عَمَّا تَعلَمْ، إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ الْأَعَزُّ الْأَكْرَمُ

Rabbighfir wa rḥam, tajāwaz ‘ammā ta’lam(u), innaka anta l-a’azzu l-akram.

“O my Lord, forgive, have mercy, and pardon that which You know. Truly You are the Most Mighty, the Most Noble.”

Thereafter, the following may be recited:

رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِيْ الدُنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَّفِيْ الآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَّقِنَا عَذَابَ النَار

Rabbanā ātinā fi d-dunyā ḥasanatan wa fi l-ākhirati ḥasanatan wa qinā ‘adhāba n-nār.

“O our Lord, grant us the good of this world, the good of the Hereafter, and save us from the punishment of the fire.”

The Safa and Marwa Story

The story of Safa and Marwa commemorates the struggle of Hajer (RA), who ran between these hills 7 times seeking sustenance for herself and her starving son, Prophet Ismail (AS).

According to Islamic history, Prophet Ibrahim (AS) lived with his first wife, Sarah (AS), in Palestine. At that time, Hajer (RA) was a slave girl who was given to Sarah after her father’s demise. However, as years passed by, Sarah remained without child, and so Sarah (AS) decided to free Hajar (AS) and encouraged Prophet Ibrahim (AS) to marry her, so she may bear him a child. Therefore, on his wife’s suggestion, Prophet Ibrahim (AS), tied the knot with Hajer (RA).

Soon after their union, Allah SWT blessed Hajer (RA) and Prophet Ibrahim (AS) with a beautiful son, Prophet Ismail (AS), who was to become the forefather of the blessed Prophet Muhammad PBUH and the father of the Arabs.

The Divine command was soon revealed to Prophet Ibrahim (AS), as Allah SWT instructed him to leave his wife, Hajer (RA), and their infant son, Prophet Ismail (AS), in the middle of a deserted and dry valley of Arabia, called Becca/Mecca. Following Allah SWT’s command, Prophet Ibrahim (AS) left both his son and wife with some provisions and a waterskin, under a tree, located between Safa and Marwa.

Although Hajer (AS) was initially a bit hesitant to stay all by herself in a deserted land, when she learned it was commanded by the Almighty, she placed her trust and faith in Allah SWT and accepted His Will. Prophet Ibrahim (AS) then recited the Dua below after leaving his family in Makkah:

رَّبَّنَا إِنِّي أَسْكَنتُ مِن ذُرِّيَّتِي بِوَادٍ غَيْرِ ذِي زَرْعٍ عِندَ بَيْتِكَ الْمُحَرَّمِ رَبَّنَا لِيُقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ فَاجْعَلْ أَفْئِدَةً مِّنَ النَّاسِ تَهْوِي إِلَيْهِمْ وَارْزُقْهُم مِّنَ الثَّمَرَاتِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَشْكُرُونَ

“Our Lord, I have settled some of my descendants in an uncultivated valley near Your sacred House, our Lord, that they may establish prayer. So, make hearts among the people incline toward them and provide for them from the fruits that they might be grateful.”
[Surah Ibrahim, 14:37]

Not long after, the water ran out; as a result, the nursing mother could not produce milk. Moreover, because of the hunger, Prophet Ismail (AS) started having seizures, seeing this Hajer (RA) desperately began foraging for water and food in the nearby land. Being desperate to find a water source, Hajer (RA) started climbing the mounts of Marwa and Safa to seek out any travelers passing through and scan the area.

She ran between the hills 7 times under the scorching sunlight before coming back to check on the condition of her infant, Prophet Ismail (AS), whom she had placed under the tree shade on the land to make her search easier and faster. That is when the worried and panic-stricken Hajer (AS) requested Allah SWT to save her child’s life.

According to Islamic history, just then, by the command of Allah SWT, Angel Jibraeel (AS) came to their aid. Angel Jibraeel (AS) struck the barren land with his wing (or heel as stated in some narrations), causing water to miraculously emerge from the ground. The moment she saw the spring, Hajer (RA) began drinking from it and was thereafter able to feed Prophet Ismail (AS), saving her child’s life.

Hajer (RA) then used her hands to dig a well around the spring. Today this spring is called the ZamZam well. Angel Jibraeel (AS) also assured Hajer (RA) that she need not worry about their life, as Prophet Ibrahim (AS) and Prophet Ismail (AS) will construct the House of Allah SWT on that exact spot.

Shortly afterwards, a small group of travelers spotted flocks of birds, circling in the sky. Understanding that birds congregate around sources of water, the group came to the Well of ZamZam and requested Bibi Hajar (AS) to drink from the well, to which she obliged. This small group of travelers belonged to the Jurhum tribe, a nomadic tribe who came from Yemen looking for new pastures, who then settled and populated the same area.

Who Ran between Safa and Marwa?

Prophet Ibrahim’s (AS) wife Hajer (RA) ran between the hills of Safa and Marwa seven times in order to look for a water source nearby.

Why Do We Run between Safa and Marwa?

Following the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad PBUH, the act of Sa’i represents Hajer (RA)’s search for water for her only son, Prophet Ismail (AS). According to some narrations, it is said that Angel Jibraeel (AS) struck his wing on the ground, which led to a spring of water that emerged.

Whereas, in other places, it is narrated that it was Prophet Ismail (AS) who, when struck or scratched his heel on the barren ground, resulted in miraculously outflowing of the Well of ZamZam by the command of Allah SWT. Therefore, today pilgrims walk/jog between the Safa and Marwa hills seven times to honour the struggle of Hajer (RA).

Safa and Marwa Mentioned in the Quran

إِنَّ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةَ مِن شَعَائِرِ اللَّهِ ۖ فَمَنْ حَجَّ الْبَيْتَ أَوِ اعْتَمَرَ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْهِ أَن يَطَّوَّفَ بِهِمَا ۚ وَمَن تَطَوَّعَ خَيْرًا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ شَاكِرٌ عَلِيمٌ

“Safa and Marwa are among the rites of God, so for those who make major or minor pilgrimage to the House it is no offence to circulate between the two. Anyone who does good of his own accord will be rewarded, for God rewards good deeds, and knows everything.” [2:158]

Commentating on the aforementioned verse, Ibn Kathir (RA) writes:

“Whoever performs Sa’i between Safa and Marwa should remember his meekness, humbleness, and need for Allah SWT to guide his heart, lead his affairs to success and forgive his sins. He should also want Allah SWT to eliminate his shortcomings and error and to guide him to the straight path.

He should ask Allah SWT to keep him firm on this path until he meets death, and to change his situation from that of sin and errors to that of perfection and being forgiven, the same providence which was provided to Hajer (RA).”

Summary – Safa and Marwa

The hills of Safa and Marwa are known as the symbols/hallmarks of Allah SWT’s greatness. They are located a short distance from the Sacred Kaaba in Masjid Al-Haram. The hills have a significant role in the Islamic obligations of Hajj and Umrah. Pilgrims are instructed to walk or jog between Safa and Marwa seven times to commemorate the struggle of Hajer (RA) as she searched for water in the desert and the miracle of ZamZam was revealed to her.

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