Dua for Safa and Marwa: Meaning, How to Recite It, and the Distance of Sa’i

If you’re preparing for Sa’i – the walk between the hills of Safa and Marwa – you likely have two questions on your mind: what do I say? and how far do I actually have to walk? Both are simpler than most guides make them sound, and getting them right beforehand means you can spend your time in the Mas’aa focused on worship rather than worrying about the steps.

This guide gives you the authentic dua recited at Safa and Marwa in Arabic, transliteration, and English, explains exactly when to say it, and clears up the confusion around the distance between the two hills – a number that varies slightly from one source to another for reasons we’ll explain.

Dua for Safa and Marwa

At the start of Sa’i, upon first approaching Safa, a pilgrim recites the Qur’anic verse “Inna as-Safa wal-Marwata min sha’a’irillah” (“Indeed, Safa and Marwa are among the symbols of Allah,” Qur’an 2:158), followed by “Abda’u bima bada’Allahu bihi” (“I begin with what Allah began with”). This is said only once, before the first lap. There is no fixed dua for the remaining six laps – pilgrims are free to recite any dhikr, du’a, or personal supplication they wish while walking. The distance between Safa and Marwa is approximately 450 meters per lap, and since Sa’i consists of seven laps, the total distance walked is about 3.15 kilometers (1.96 miles).

What Is Sa’i, and Why Do Pilgrims Walk Between Safa and Marwa?

Sa’i (Arabic: السعي, “to strive” or “to walk with purpose”) is the ritual of walking back and forth seven times between the hills of Safa and Marwa, located inside Masjid al-Haram in Makkah, just steps from the Kaaba. It is performed immediately after Tawaf in both Umrah and Hajj, and it is a rukn – an essential pillar – of both. Skipping it, even unintentionally, means the Umrah or Hajj is incomplete.

The ritual commemorates Hajar (Hagar), wife of Prophet Ibrahim, who was left in the barren valley of Makkah with her infant son Ismail. When their water ran out, she ran between Safa and Marwa seven times searching for help, climbing each hill to look for any sign of a caravan or water. On her final return, the angel Jibril struck the ground near Ismail’s feet, and the spring of Zamzam emerged – a source of water that still flows today. Allah later made this walk an act of worship for every pilgrim who visits His House, as stated directly in the Qur’an:

“Indeed, Safa and Marwah 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. And whoever volunteers good, then indeed Allah is Appreciative and Knowing.” (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:158)

This verse is the same one recited by pilgrims as they approach Safa to begin Sa’i.

The Dua for Safa and Marwa (Arabic, Transliteration, English)

There are two short recitations tied specifically to Safa and Marwa. The first is said once, at the very beginning. The second – a longer supplication – was recited by the Prophet ﷺ at both Safa and Marwa during each of his approaches to the hills, according to the hadith of Jabir ibn Abdullah recorded in Sahih Muslim.

1. The opening verse (recited once, only at the first approach to Safa)

Arabic	إِنَّ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةَ مِنْ شَعَآئِرِ اللَّهِ
Transliteration	Inna as-Safa wal-Marwata min sha’a’irillah
English meaning	“Indeed, Safa and Marwa are among the symbols of Allah.”

Followed immediately by:

Arabic	أَبْدَأُ بِمَا بَدَأَ اللهُ بِهِ
Transliteration	Abda’u bima bada’Allahu bihi
English meaning	“I begin with what Allah began with.”

This pair is recited only once, right before starting the first lap. It is a common mistake to repeat it at every round – it isn’t required at Marwa or on any subsequent lap.

2. The supplication repeated at both Safa and Marwa (recommended three times, at every lap)

Upon reaching the top of each hill, face the direction of the Kaaba, raise your hands, and say:

Transliteration: “La ilaha illallahu wahdahu la sharika lah, lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamdu, wa Huwa ‘ala kulli shay’in Qadir. La ilaha illallahu wahdah, anjaza wa’dah, wa nasara ‘abdah, wa hazamal-ahzaba wahdah.”

English meaning: “There is no deity worthy of worship except Allah alone, He has no partner. His is the dominion, His is all praise, and He is over all things Omnipotent. There is no deity worthy of worship except Allah alone. He fulfilled His promise, aided His slave, and single-handedly defeated the confederates.”

Between reciting this, pilgrims traditionally make personal du’a – for themselves, their family, and anyone they wish to remember – repeating the phrase up to three times per hill. This is not obligatory wording, so it’s fine to recite it in your own language, or simply to recite the Arabic and then ask Allah in whatever language is most natural to you.

What to recite during the walk itself

There is no single prescribed dua for the walk between the hills. Scholars are clear on this point: a pilgrim may recite Qur’an, send salawat (blessings) upon the Prophet ﷺ, make personal du’a, or simply engage in quiet dhikr such as “SubhanAllah,” “Alhamdulillah,” and “La ilaha illallah.” Many pilgrims use this time to ask for something specific and personal – Sa’i has long been considered a time when supplication is especially likely to be answered, given that it retraces Hajar’s own desperate, sincere prayer for help.

How to Perform Sa’i, Step by Step

1. Complete Tawaf first. Sa’i always follows the seven circuits of Tawaf around the Kaaba (and the two rak’ahs of prayer that follow it, where possible).
2. Head to Safa. Exit toward the Safa gate and proceed to the hill. Face the Kaaba (or your best estimate of its direction if it isn’t visible from where you stand).
3. Recite the opening verse once – “Inna as-Safa wal-Marwata…” followed by “Abda’u bima bada’Allahu bihi.”
4. Make the standing supplication, raising your hands, repeating it up to three times with personal du’a between each repetition.
5. Walk toward Marwa. Between two sets of green fluorescent lights roughly 50 meters apart, men are encouraged to walk briskly (a light jog, where the crowd allows); women continue walking normally throughout. These lights mark the low point of the valley where Hajar could no longer see her son and quickened her pace out of anxiety.
6. Reach Marwa and repeat the standing supplication, facing the Kaaba’s direction again. This completes lap one.
7. Return to Safa. This is lap two. Continue back and forth until seven laps are completed – the ritual ends at Marwa.
8. Close with a moment of gratitude. Many pilgrims choose to pray two voluntary rak’ahs (Nafl Shukr) after finishing, though this is not obligatory.

A practical note: if you lose count of your laps, Islamic guidance is to take the lower number you’re confident of and continue from there, rather than guess upward.

Distance Between Safa and Marwa: The Real Number, Explained

This is one of the most searched questions among first-time pilgrims, and it deserves a straight answer rather than a vague one.

Measurement	Distance
One lap (Safa to Marwa, one way)	~450 meters (1,480 ft)
Total for all 7 laps	~3.15 km (1.96 miles)
Average time to complete Sa’i	30–45 minutes
Safa’s distance from the Kaaba	~130 m southeast
Marwa’s distance from the Kaaba	~300 m northeast

You’ll sometimes see slightly different figures online – anywhere from 350 to 450 meters per lap. This isn’t a contradiction; it comes down to exactly where the measurement is taken from (the base of each hill versus the marked start/end lines of the current Mas’aa corridor) and whether a source is quoting a straight-line distance or the actual walking path, which has been widened and reshaped several times as Masjid al-Haram expanded. The most consistently cited and historically documented figure – used by the Saudi authorities and most classical sources – is 450 meters per lap, or roughly 3.15 km total. That’s the number worth planning around.

Today, the Mas’aa (the corridor between the two hills) is fully enclosed within Masjid al-Haram, air-conditioned, and built across two levels with wide walkways to handle the volume of pilgrims during Umrah and Hajj peak seasons. A center lane is reserved for wheelchairs and electric carts, so elderly pilgrims and those with limited mobility can complete Sa’i without difficulty.

Common Mistakes Pilgrims Make During Sa’i

• Repeating the opening verse at every lap. It’s said once, only at the first approach to Safa.
• Assuming there’s a “correct” dua for each round. There isn’t one – personal du’a is not only allowed but encouraged.
• Women jogging at the green lights. The light jog is only for men; women walk at a normal, steady pace throughout.
• Rushing through Sa’i to “finish faster.” Sa’i is not a race. Scholars describe it as a deliberate act of remembrance, not a physical challenge to complete quickly.
• Losing count under crowd pressure. Using fingers, a tasbih counter, or simply pausing to confirm your lap count avoids doubt later.

Tips for Families, Elderly Pilgrims, and First-Timers

• Wear comfortable, broken-in shoes. You’ll cover just over 3 km, and the corridor floor, while smooth, can still tire unaccustomed feet.
• Carry Zamzam water with you – it’s available throughout the Mas’aa corridor.
• Use the upper floor or the wheelchair lane during extremely crowded hours if you’re travelling with elderly family members or young children.
• Perform Sa’i earlier in the day or late at night during Ramadan and peak Umrah season, when the corridor is significantly less crowded.
• Keep family members within sight, especially children – the corridor spans a long distance and can get crowded quickly during Hajj.

Getting to Masjid al-Haram Before Your Sa’i

For most pilgrims, the day of Sa’i begins well before reaching Safa – it starts with the journey from Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz International Airport or from your hotel to Masjid al-Haram. Arriving tired from a long flight or a stressful, unplanned transfer makes it harder to approach Tawaf and Sa’i with the focus they deserve.

A pre-arranged, air-conditioned private transfer – whether it’s an Umrah taxi from Jeddah Airport or a direct Jeddah Airport to Makkah taxi with a licensed driver who tracks your flight and meets you at arrivals – removes that friction. Families often prefer a spacious Hyundai Staria or Toyota Hiace for group travel, while those seeking a quieter, more comfortable ride ahead of Umrah choose a luxury Umrah taxi such as a GMC Yukon. Whichever you choose, arriving rested means you begin your Sa’i the way it’s meant to be performed – unhurried, present, and focused on the du’a rather than the logistics that came before it.

Recommended Services:

• Reliable Jeddah Airport Taxi
• Jeddah Airport to Madinah Taxi
• Makkah to Madinah Taxi
• Madinah to Makkah Taxi

FAQs

1. What is the dua for Safa and Marwa in English?

“Indeed, Safa and Marwa are among the symbols of Allah. I begin with what Allah began with.” This is recited once, before the first lap, followed by personal supplication at each hill.

2. Is there a specific dua for each of the seven laps of Sa’i?

No. Only the opening verse is fixed, and it’s said once. For the remaining laps, pilgrims recite personal du’a, dhikr, or Qur’an of their choice.

3. What is the distance between Safa and Marwa?

Approximately 450 meters for one lap. Completing all seven laps of Sa’i covers roughly 3.15 kilometers (1.96 miles) in total.

4. How long does it take to complete Sa’i?

Most pilgrims finish in 30 to 45 minutes, though this varies with crowd levels, walking pace, and how long you pause for personal du’a.

5. Do women have to jog between the green lights?

No. The light jog between the two green markers is only for men. Women walk at their normal, steady pace throughout all seven laps.

6. What if I lose count of my laps during Sa’i?

Take the lowest number of laps you’re confident you’ve completed and continue from there, rather than guessing a higher number.

7. Can I recite du’a in my own language during Sa’i, not just Arabic?

Yes. Personal supplication can be made in any language. The only fixed Arabic wording is the opening Qur’anic verse recited once at Safa.

8. Is Sa’i obligatory in Umrah and Hajj?

Yes, Sa’i is a rukn (essential pillar) of both Umrah and Hajj. Umrah and Hajj are considered incomplete without it.

9. What is the story behind Safa and Marwa?

Safa and Marwa commemorate Hajar’s search for water for her infant son Ismail after Prophet Ibrahim left them in the valley of Makkah. Her seven trips between the two hills, and the spring of Zamzam that appeared afterward, are the basis for the ritual pilgrims perform today.

10. Are Safa and Marwa inside Masjid al-Haram?

Yes. Both hills and the corridor between them (the Mas’aa) were formally incorporated into Masjid al-Haram in the 1950s and have since been expanded and enclosed, air-conditioned, across multiple levels.

11. What should I recite when leaving Makkah after Umrah?

There’s no single fixed dua for departure, though many pilgrims recite du’a expressing hope to return, gratitude for the journey, and Qur’anic supplications such as “Rabbana atina fid-dunya hasanatan wa fil-akhirati hasanatan wa qina ‘adhaban-nar.”

12. Do I need to perform Sa’i again if I visit Makkah again during the same trip?

Sa’i is tied to a specific Umrah or Hajj. If you enter a new state of Ihram and perform a fresh Umrah, you perform Tawaf and Sa’i again for that Umrah.

13. Is there wheelchair access for Sa’i?

Yes. A dedicated lane in the Mas’aa corridor is reserved for wheelchairs and electric carts, making Sa’i accessible for elderly and mobility-limited pilgrims.

14. What’s the difference between Tawaf dua and Safa Marwa dua?

Tawaf has its own recitations, including “Rabbana atina…” recited between the Yemeni Corner and the Black Stone. The Safa-Marwa dua is specific to Sa’i and is recited only at the two hills, not during Tawaf.

15. Can I make Sa’i without saying anything specific at all?

Sa’i requires the physical act of walking the seven laps with the intention (niyyah) of performing Sa’i. While reciting the Sunnah wording is recommended, silent walking with sincere intention and personal reflection also fulfills the ritual.

Final Thoughts

The dua for Safa and Marwa is short, and the ritual itself is far less complicated than it can seem from a distance. Say the opening verse once, walk with intention, and use the rest of your seven laps the way Hajar herself did – with sincerity, patience, and trust that your du’a is being heard. Whether this is your first Umrah or your tenth, arriving at Masjid al-Haram rested and unhurried – starting with a smooth transfer from Jeddah, Madinah, or wherever your journey begins – makes it easier to give Sa’i the presence it deserves.