Tawaf and sa'i explained for pilgrims, step by step

Tawaf and sa’i explained for pilgrims, step by step

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Quick answer: tawaf is seven circuits of the Kaaba starting and ending at the Black Stone corner, done counter-clockwise with the Kaaba on your left. Sa’i is seven one-way trips between the hills of Safa and Marwah, starting at Safa and finishing at Marwah. The four Sunni schools agree on these numbers. They differ mainly on whether wudu is a strict condition for tawaf’s validity, and on a few smaller points covered below. Always confirm current crowd-management rules at the mosque with the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah before you travel, since local arrangements can change.

What tawaf actually involves

Tawaf means walking around the Kaaba seven times, keeping the Kaaba on your left side throughout. Tawaf around the Ka’bah must consist of exactly seven circuits according to the Sunnah and the consensus of the four major Sunni schools, and completing fewer than seven rounds invalidates the tawaf, while any additional rounds are considered voluntary. Each round begins and ends at the same spot: level with the corner holding the Black Stone (Hajar al-Aswad).

Pilgrims performing Umrah or Hajj do more than one tawaf over the course of the rites. According to Ibn Rushd, in his Bidayah, the four Sunni schools agree that the pilgrim of Hajj al-tamattu’ and its related ‘Umrah is required to perform tawaf twice, while the one on Hajj al-ifrad is required to perform tawaf once. The tawaf done for Umrah, or on first arrival in Makkah for Hajj, is often called Tawaf al-Qudum; the one tied to the Day of Sacrifice is Tawaf al-Ziyarah (or al-Ifadah); and a final one before leaving the city is Tawaf al-Wada.

The schools do not fully agree on whether that farewell tawaf is obligatory. The Hanafi and Hanbali schools consider Tawaf al-Wada obligatory, though all that is required of someone who skips it is a sacrifice; the Malikis consider it recommended and do not require any penalty for missing it; and al-Shafi’i has two opinions on the matter.

Starting tawaf: niyyah, purity, and the four schools on wudu

Before the first round, pilgrims form the intention (niyyah) for the specific tawaf they are about to do, and line up level with the Black Stone corner to begin. Scholars generally advise making this intention quietly in the heart rather than announcing it aloud.

On whether wudu is a strict precondition, the schools diverge. The majority of Muslim scholars hold that wudu is a condition for the validity of any tawaf, without which the tawaf is invalid, while the Hanafi school and some other scholars such as Ibn Taymiyyah hold that it is not a necessary condition, so a tawaf performed in a state of minor impurity would still be valid on this view. In practice, Hanafi fiqh treats being in wudu as obligatory (wajib) rather than a condition for validity (shart): according to the Hanafi madhhab a person is required to be in a state of purity when performing tawaf, but if wudu or ghusl was not valid during tawaf, the person must either repeat the tawaf while still in Makkah or give a sacrifice (damm) after returning home.

Sa’i is treated more leniently by every school on this point. The majority of scholars view wudu as an essential condition of tawaf, but wudu is not essential for sa’i.

School Is wudu a condition for tawaf’s validity? If broken partway through
Hanafi Obligatory (wajib), not a strict condition; tawaf without it is valid but requires repeating it or a sacrifice Resume from where you stopped, after renewing wudu
Maliki A condition for validity Start the tawaf again from the beginning
Shafi’i A condition for validity Resume from where you stopped, after renewing wudu
Hanbali A condition for validity Start the tawaf again from the beginning

Source: the Hanafis and Shafi’is hold that a pilgrim whose wudu breaks during tawaf should resume the tawaf, while the Malikis and Hanbalis hold that he should start the tawaf again from the beginning. Because the point is genuinely disputed, ask a qualified scholar which view your own school follows if your wudu breaks mid-tawaf.

Ramal and idtiba: the brisk walk in the first three rounds

Men performing a tawaf that is followed by sa’i (such as the Umrah tawaf, or Tawaf al-Qudum on Hajj) have two further sunnah practices. The first is idtiba: uncovering the right shoulder by tucking the ihram cloth under the right arm and over the left shoulder. The second is ramal, a brisk, purposeful walk (not a run) for the first three circuits only, returning to a normal pace for the last four.

حَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدٌ، حَدَّثَنَا سُرَيْجُ بْنُ النُّعْمَانِ، حَدَّثَنَا فُلَيْحٌ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ قَالَ سَعَى النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ثَلاَثَةَ أَشْوَاطٍ وَمَشَى أَرْبَعَةً فِي الْحَجِّ وَالْعُمْرَةِ‏.‏ تَابَعَهُ اللَّيْثُ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي كَثِيرُ بْنُ فَرْقَدٍ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم‏.‏

Narrated `Abdullah bin `Umar:The Prophet (ﷺ) did Ramal in (first) three rounds (of Tawaf), and walked in the remaining four, in Hajj and Umra

Both practices are sunnah, not conditions for validity. According to the Hanafi school, performing tawaf in a state of minor ritual impurity would necessitate the slaughter of a small animal as expiation, while tawaf in a state of major ritual impurity would necessitate the sacrifice of a large animal as atonement, but omitting ramal or idtiba carries no such penalty. Neglecting idtiba or ramal will not invalidate the tawaf, and men also need to brisk walk or walk energetically during the first three rounds, which is called ramal. Women do not perform ramal or idtiba at all. If the mataf is too crowded to walk briskly without bumping other pilgrims, scholars say it is better to leave ramal out than to cause harm.

Finishing tawaf and moving into sa’i

After the seventh round, it is sunnah to pray two short rak’ahs, ideally behind the Station of Ibrahim (Maqam Ibrahim) if space allows, or anywhere else in the mosque if it is crowded. Many pilgrims then drink Zamzam water before heading to the hill of Safa to begin sa’i.

Sa’i for Umrah, and for Hajj al-tamattu, normally follows directly after this tawaf. A pilgrim performing Hajj al-ifrad or Hajj al-qiran may instead do sa’i once, after either Tawaf al-Qudum or Tawaf al-Ziyarah, since when a pilgrim performs Hajj, tawaf is always followed by sa’i (walking between Safa and Marwah) at some point in the rites. If you are unsure which sequence applies to your Hajj type, this is exactly the kind of detail to confirm with a qualified scholar or your Hajj group leader before you travel.

Sa’i: the walk between Safa and Marwah

Sa’i is seven one-way trips along a covered corridor inside the Masjid al-Haram, starting at the hill of Safa and ending at Marwah. A trip from Safa to Marwah counts as round one; the walk back from Marwah to Safa counts as round two, and so on, finishing the seventh trip at Marwah.

Safa is located about 130 metres southeast of the Kaaba, marking the beginning of the sa’i, while Marwah is located about 300 metres northeast of the Kaaba, marking its end. The distance between Safa and Marwah is approximately 450 metres, so seven trips back and forth amount to roughly 3.15 kilometres.

Distances around the Masjid al-Haram
Distances around the Masjid al-Haram

Partway along the corridor, men will see two green markers. Between Safa and Marwah, pilgrims come across two sets of green fluorescent lights approximately 50 metres apart, indicating the distance Hagar ran to reach higher ground; these two green markers are known as Milayn al-Akhdharayn. Men are encouraged to walk briskly between these two markers, where conditions permit; women walk at a normal pace throughout.

The story behind the rite

Sa’i recalls the search of Hajar (may Allah be pleased with her), the wife of the Prophet Ibrahim , peace be upon him, for water for her infant son Isma’il after Ibrahim left them in the valley of Makkah by Allah’s command. She ran between the two hills seven times looking for help until the Zamzam spring appeared near her son. The Quran names Safa and Marwah among the rites Allah has established.

۞ إِنَّ ٱلصَّفَا وَٱلْمَرْوَةَ مِن شَعَآئِرِ ٱللَّهِ ۖ فَمَنْ حَجَّ ٱلْبَيْتَ أَوِ ٱعْتَمَرَ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْهِ أَن يَطَّوَّفَ بِهِمَا ۚ وَمَن تَطَوَّعَ خَيْرًۭا فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ شَاكِرٌ عَلِيمٌ

Indeed, as-Safa and al-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.

Common mistakes in tawaf

  • Starting the first round somewhere other than level with the Black Stone corner, which means that round does not count.
  • Doing the tawaf only around the Kaaba rather than around the whole structure, since the tawaf should go around the Hijr Isma’il area as well, not through it.
  • Pushing or shoving to kiss the Black Stone. Touching the Black Stone is not necessary for the tawaf to be accepted; if it is impossible to reach it safely, pilgrims can simply point toward it and say the takbir.
  • Doing ramal in all seven rounds instead of only the first three, or doing it on a tawaf that is not meant to include it at all.
  • Losing count of rounds in a crowd; many pilgrims now use a simple tally counter or prayer beads to keep track.
  • Forgetting the two rak’ahs after tawaf and only remembering once sa’i has started. Scholars note this prayer can be made up at any point, including after sa’i, without repeating the tawaf.

Common mistakes in sa’i

  • Starting sa’i at Marwah instead of Safa.
  • Counting a round trip (Safa to Marwah and back) as a single lap, which leaves the pilgrim two laps short of seven. Each one-way leg is one lap.
  • Climbing onto the hills themselves rather than standing at their base and facing the direction of the Kaaba.
  • Assuming there is one fixed du’a that must be repeated at every lap; pilgrims may recite Quran, dhikr or personal supplication throughout.
  • Doing sa’i before tawaf, when the correct order is tawaf first, then the two rak’ahs, then sa’i.

Order of the rites at a glance

Step What happens Who does it
1. Niyyah and ihram Intention made at or before the miqat Everyone
2. Istilam Face or touch the Black Stone corner to begin Everyone
3. Idtiba Right shoulder uncovered for the tawaf Men only
4. Tawaf, 7 rounds Counter-clockwise, Kaaba on the left, ramal in rounds 1 to 3 Everyone (ramal: men only)
5. Two rak’ahs Prayed behind the Station of Ibrahim or elsewhere in the mosque Everyone
6. Sa’i, 7 legs Safa to Marwah and back, finishing at Marwah; brisk walk between the green markers Everyone (brisk walk: men only)
7. Halq or taqsir Men shave or trim the hair fully; women trim a fingertip’s length Everyone

Before you book: check the official rules

Crowd-management routes inside the Masjid al-Haram, the layout of the mataf and masa’a, and any seasonal restrictions can all change between one Umrah season and the next. Check the official pages of the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah and the national e-visa portal before you travel, since entry conditions, permitted dates and on-the-ground arrangements are set and updated by these official bodies rather than by travel guides. If you need a packing or planning checklist for the trip itself, our downloads page has printable planners you can take with you.

Sources

This article explains what the four Sunni schools say and links its sources. It is not a fatwa. Entry rules, fees and dates change, so check the official pages before you book, and ask a qualified scholar about your own situation.

Header photo of Safa and Marwa: Mohammad Hossein Velayati, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.