What are Tawaf and Sa'i and how do they fit into Umrah?
The two rite walks of every Umrah and Hajj pilgrimage are Tawaf and Sa'i. The act of walking around Kaaba in Masjid al-Haram 7 times in a clockwise direction, starting and ending at the Black Stone is called Tawaf. Sa'i is the walking of 7 steps from the hill of Safa to the hill of Marwa in remembrance of Hajar (mother of Ismail ﷺ) who walked from the hill of Safa to the hill of Marwa to fetch water for her son. Tawaf takes 30-60 minutes and Sa'i 30-45 minutes. These two are the main physical worship of Umrah, as the walk is about 5 km when combined.
Here you will find an explanation of how to do each, along with its duas, etiquette, and common mistakes.
Tawaf means 7 Circuits around Kaaba.
Before starting Tawaf
- Be in Wudu. Tawaf requires ablution. Make Wudu before approaching the Mataf.
- Be in Ihram (for Umrah). All the acts of Tawaf of Umrah are made in Ihram. Use appropriate clothing.
- Men: uncover the right shoulder (Idtiba). The Rida' is wrapped under the right armpit, draped over the left shoulder.
- Find the Black Stone (Hajar al-Aswad). TThis is where you are starting from and where you will finish.There is a green light above the floor and a brown line on the ground at the corner.
Performing the 7 circuits
- Stand at the Black Stone corner. At the Black Stone corner. Face the Kaaba. The line on the ground is the starting line.
- Try to touch or kiss the Black Stone, if possible. If it is crowded, hold your right hand towards it and say "Bismillahi Allahu Akbar" (In the name of Allah, Allah is the Greatest).
- Walk counter-clockwise. Ensure that Kaaba is to your left. Walk as if to run, unless you're a man doing Raml.
- Recite duas as you walk. No specific vocabulary is needed. From the heart make a du'a, even if it is in a foreign tongue. The duas that are recommended are the duas which are personal duas, salawat and dhikr.
- At the Yemeni Corner (3rd corner). If you can touch, touch with your right hand, if you cannot touch, do not kiss or raise the hand.
- Between Yemeni Corner and Black Stone. Recite: "Rabbana atina fid-dunya hasanah wa fil-akhirati hasanah waqina 'adhab an-nar" (Our Lord, grant us good in this world and good in the afterlife and save us from the punishment of the Fire.)
- Each pass through the Black Stone is one circuit (shawt).At the end of each pass, touch or wave towards it again. Continue counting circuits.
- Complete 7 circuits total.
Men's specific Tawaf rules
Idtiba: The right shoulder is not covered throughout the Tawaf of Umrah.
Raml: Men walk briskly during the first 3 of 7 circuits — sometimes referred to as "jogging in dignity. This is the sunnah of men in the Tawaf al Qudum.
Walk normally for circuits 4-7 after the 3rd circuit.
After completing 7 circuits
- Re-cover the right shoulder. If Tawaf is performed, it is only Idtiba for Rida' and then make the Rida' as usual.
- Pray 2 rakah behind Maqam Ibrahim. Anywhere in the mosque, if Maqam Ibrahim is too crowded.
- 1st rakah: Surah Al-Kafirun
- 2nd rakah: Surah Al-Ikhlas
- Drink Zamzam water. Bend your knees and turn to the Kaaba. Breathe in and out 3 times. Make du'a after.
- Touch or kiss the Black Stone again. Before Sa'i, this is the last greeting.
- Move to the Sa'i corridor. Adjacent to the Mataf.
Sa'i — 7 trips between Safa and Marwa
Before starting Sa'i
- No Wudu requirement. Sa'i is different from Tawaf, where it is allowed to be done in ritual impurity, such as menstruation.
- Sa'i should be performed after Tawaf. You can't do it ahead of time.
Performing the 7 trips
- From the Mataf to the entrance of the Sa'i corridor, walk. As-Safa" entrance is indicated by the signs.
- Climb Safa hill. Until you see the Kaaba you won't be satisfied. Most of the natural hill has been levelled by the Saudi authorities and today it is marked with a green sign.
- Turn towards Kaaba and say the Sa'i dua while praying at Safa. “Indeed Safa and Marwa are among the symbols of Allah (Allah), I start with what Allah started with.”
- Raise both hands and say three times "Allahu Akbar."
- Then recite: "La ilaha illallahu wahdahu la sharika lah, lahul mulku wa lahul hamdu, yuhyee wa yumeet, wa huwa 'ala kulli shay'in qadeer" (There is no god but Allah alone, without partner, He is the King, He is the Praise, He gives life and He takes life, He is strong and has power over all things. Glory and praise are His! He gives life and causes death, and He is over all things capable).
- Walk toward Marwa. Approximate length of the walk is 500m.
- Run between the green markers (men only). Women walk normally.
- At Marwa repeat the same duas. Turn to the Kaaba, stretch up your hands and recite.
- Walk back to Safa. This is the second time you have been here.
- Continue alternating:
- Trip 1: Safa → Marwa
- Trip 2: Marwa → Safa
- Trip 3: Safa → Marwa
- Trip 4: Marwa → Safa
- Trip 5: Safa → Marwa
- Trip 6: Marwa → Safa
- Trip 7: Safa → Marwa
- End at Marwa. This is very important—many BD pilgrims miscount and end up at Safa.
Sa'i for women
Women do not run from Green Markers. Walk normally throughout. Same duas as for men at Safa and Marwa.
Sa'i in special circumstances
- Wheelchair Sa'i: 7 trips (same). The Sa'i corridor has wheelchair lanes. Pay a porter (Saudi Riyal 50-100) at the entrance.
- Sa'i during menstruation: Allowed. During the period, women do Sa'i normally.
Common Tawaf and Sa'i mistakes
- Facing the wrong direction when performing the Tawaf. Always counter-clockwise, Kaaba on your left.
- Skipping Black Stone touch/wave at start of each circuit. All circuits start at the Black Stone.
- There are two rakah inside the Hijr Ismail. This is part of Ka'ba. If one prays inside of it it is a prayer inside the Kaaba which is highly virtuous, however, circuits of the Kaaba passing through it are invalid.
- Counting Sa'i wrong. Takes one trip per direction. The vast majority of BD pilgrims double count.
- Stopping Sa'i at Safa rather than Marwa. End at Marwa. If you finish at Safa, you will have 6 trips, invalid; you should have 7.
- Cutting hair before completing Sa'i. Halq is the LAST step. Avoid cutting off the hair after Tawaf and before Sa'i.
- Speaking loudly during Tawaf and Sa'i. Keep your voice down when making personal du'a. Avoid disturbing others.
How many minutes does it take for Tawaf and Sa'i?
| Activity | Off-peak time | Peak time (Hajj/Ramadan) |
|---|---|---|
| Tawaf | 30-45 min | 60-90 min |
| Sa'i | 30-45 min | 45-60 min |
| Total walk distance | ~5 km | ~5 km |
Usually pilgrims do Tawaf, and thereafter take a short seat and then Sa'i. This whole sequence will take 1.5-2.5 hours.
Multiple Tawafs at the HaramTawaf
Once the Umrah is completed, then pilgrims can perform further Tawafs (called Tawaf an-Nafl) which are voluntary. Common patterns:
- 7 Circuits around the Tawaf (always 7, not less)
- No Sa'i for Nafl Tawaf
- No Halq required after Nafl Tawaf
- Normal clothes (no Ihram required after first Umrah completed)
During the stay in Makkah, many BD pilgrims conduct the Nafl Tawafs on a daily basis.
