Every ritual involved in the Umrah process holds a deep meaning, historical background, and spiritual significance. Out of the four essential Umrah rituals is Sa’i which serves as much more than just walking between the Safa and Marwah hills. The entire ritual itself is filled with a complete history and emotions, and teaches pilgrims the deep lessons of faith in Allah and patience. That is why each year, Muslims book the best Ramadan Umrah packages as well as other deals to understand what Umrah is, how each ritual is performed, and what lessons it holds for the pilgrims to implement in their daily lives.
Let’s explore together all such aspects involved with Sa’i- an important Umrah step.
What is Sa’i?
Sa’i in Arabic means to seek or to strive, and in terms of pilgrimage, it points to the act of walking seven times between the hills of Safa and Marwah seven times, which are both now enclosed inside Masjid-al-Haram in Makkah. Sa’i is an important step of Umrah that is performed right after Tawaf and is considered mandatory for completion of both Umrah or Hajj.
The History Behind Sa’i
The history of Sa’i dates back to the days of Prophet Ibrahim, his wife Hajar (Hagar), and their young son Ismail. When Allah ordered Prophet Ibrahim to leave Hajar and Ismail in the desert valley of Makkah, there was no food or water. When the baby Ismail was crying of thirst, his mother Hajar was desperately running between the two hills, Safa and Marwah, in search of water or rescue. She did it seven times, with love, fear, and faith. Allah accepted her honest effort, and later on, Angel Jibril came and made water flow out of the ground, which then became the famous Zamzam well. Allah loved the trust and struggle of Hajar so much that he made her act a part of the rituals of Hajj and Umrah forever. All Muslims who do Umrah or Hajj follow her footsteps during Sa’i.
Where is Sa’i Performed?
Inside the sacred Masjid al-Haram, you’ll find the small hills of Safa and Marwah that are the prime point of where the ritual of Sa’i is performed during Umrah and Hajj. These hills are further connected by a long, air-conditioned passageway designed for the comfort of pilgrims. The route includes clearly designated paths for walking and wheelchair use. You may find green lights in one corridor that indicate where men need to gently fasten up their pace, and reflect Hajar’s urgent search for water centuries ago. While the surroundings may appear quite modish, the ritual still holds deep spiritual and emotional meaning for those who walk this path.
Steps of Performing Sa’i
Once your Tawaf is done, it’s time for the Sa’i ritual of Umrah that requires you to walk between the hills of Safa and Marwah. The initial point is Safa where pilgrims need to pause while facing the Kaaba and make a short dua in praise of Allah. At this point, you also need to make your intention to perform Sa’i. After this, take a walk from Safa towards the opposite hill, Marwah. Along the way, you’ll come across a section marked with green lights where there are separate speed rules for men and women.
Then, from Marwah, take a pause again. It’s time for a moment of dhikr, after which, you again need to walk back to Safa. This counts as the second lap, and you need to keep repeating the same walk between both hills until a total of seven rounds is achieved. There are no specific or required prayers for each lap, so pilgrims are free to recite verses from the Quran or personal supplications.
Rules and Tips for Sa’i
There are a few set of rules that pilgrims need to follow during Sa’i, such as performing it right after Tawaf, be in a clean state though Wudhu is not mandatory for this ritual, the use of wheelchair by those who are unable to walk, the speed difference among males and females between the two green lights, the allowance to take rest if one gets tired, and the freedom to make dua or any supplication that directly connects one’s heart and soul with the Almighty Allah.
Spiritual Lessons from Sa’i
Overall, Sa’i serves as a great symbol of struggle and trust in Allah’s plan. This points back to the time when Hajar wasn’t aware of where she would get help from, but she was steadfast and kept moving and praying. She gave her best efforts and left the rest to Allah, which teaches us to perform and try the best we can to achieve something, and leave the results to the Creator of this universe and the hereafter.
The second lesson we can learn from Sa’i is to never give up, as Hajar kept running seven times between the two hills, each time hoping for finding water, praying, and kept trying. This gives us a lesson of patience and to never give up, no matter how tired or hopeless we might be. Another lesson is of sincerity in action as she did all of this out of pure love for her child, and her sincere actions were so loved by Allah that he made her efforts an essential part of performing both minor and major pilgrimages.
Also, this symbolises the role of women in Islam and honours her courage while reminding the world of the respected role of females in Islam. Lastly, it teaches us that Allah rewards efforts and they never get neglected. Even before she found water, her efforts were appreciated and rewarded by Allah. Sometimes, in life, we may not get the desired results right away, but it is Allah who can see all of our efforts and reward us at the right time.
The Modern Experience of Sa’i
Performing Sa’i in today’s era has become way easier, with renovations in the holy cities and the entire Umrah system. One can not get to perform it on clean floors, with proper air conditioning, and different signs that guide pilgrims, even if it’s their first Umrah in Ramadan. It makes you feel like a part of the same ritual where a mother once struggled alone with complete faith in Allah’s mercy and blessings. The ritual reminds us that in life we may go through different hardships and run between a bunch of problems. But same like Hajar, we must trust in Allah’s mercy, and if we keep on trying with faith and consistent efforts, Allah will open a door of hope and relief. Whether you are performing Umrah Ramadan or simply facing life’s challenges with bravery, one should be patient, optimistic, and trust Allah throughout all the hurdles.
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