Mecca Sharif, Saudi Arabia
Coordinates: 21.423611, 39.827222
Safa and Marwa are two small hills, connected to the larger Abu Qubais and Qaiqan mountains, respectively, in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, now made part of the Masjid al-Haram.
Muslims travel back and forth between them seven times in what is known as Sa’ee ritual pilgrimages of Hajj and Umrah.
Muslims walk between the two mountains (called Sa’ee), which they believe was made a ritual as a tribute to Bibi Hajar’s رضي الله عنها search for water in the area when she ran out of provisions after Hz. Ibrahim عليه اسلام left her in the valley upon Allah’s command.
The space between the two mountains in which the pilgrims walk is called al-Mas’aa and are air conditioned. Water pumped from the Zamzam Well is also available on the way.
In Islamic tradition, the civilization of Mecca started after Hz. Ibrahim عليه اسلام left his son Hz. Isma’il عليه اسلام and wife Bibi Hajar رضي الله عنها in the valley, which Muslims believe was a command by Allah.
When their provisions were exhausted, Bibi Hajar رضي الله عنها eventually ran out of food and water and could no longer breastfeed Hz. Isma’il عليه اسلام.
She thus ran back and forth seven times between Safa and Marwa hoping to find water. To make her search easier and faster, she went alone, leaving the infant on the ground.
She first climbed the nearest hill, Safa, to look over the surrounding area. When she saw nothing, she then went to the other hill, Marwah, to look around.
While Bibi Hajar رضي الله عنها was on either hillside, she was able to see Hz. Isma’il عليه اسلام and know he was safe. However, when she was in the valley between the hills she was unable to see her son, and would thus run whilst in the valley and walk at a normal pace when on the hillsides.
Bibi Hajar رضي الله عنها traveled back and forth between the hills seven times in the scorching heat before returning to her son.
Allah then sent Angel Jibril عليه اسلام to their aid and a spring of water appeared from the ground. The well was named Zamzam and the journey back and forth Safa and Marwa was made a ritual during Hajj and Umrah.
The two mountains are mentioned by name in the Qur’an, in Surah Al-Baqarah (2), verse 158.
Significance in the Hajj and Umrah
Performing the Sa’ee serves to commemorate Bibi Hajar رضي الله عنها search for water for her son and Allah’s mercy in answering prayers.
Two walkways guide pilgrimes from Safa to Marwa, and from Marwa to Safa, with two narrower walkways in the center to serve elderly and disabled pilgrims. The walkways between the two mountains are collectively called the Mas’aa and are air-conditioned.
Sa’ee is an integral part and rukn of Hajj and Umrah.
Know This
Please make sure during all this keep eye on your family as there is area where you have green light men have to run fast and that’s the moment sometimes families miss their members
