The S’ai area

The Sa’i is the path extending between the Safa mountain and the Marwah mountain, located to the east of the Grand Mosque, and is a part of the Hajj and Umrah rituals as commanded by Allah in His Blessed Book.

Safa and Marwah are two small mountains surrounding the Grand Mosque, where the Sa’i begins at Safa and ends at Marwah over seven laps, in accordance to Allah’s speech regarding that: {Indeed, Safa and Marwah are among the symbols of Allah. Thus,  whoever intends the K’abah to perform Hajj or Umrah, there is no blame upon them to walk between them. And whoever volunteers good, Allah is truly Appreciative, All-Knowing.} (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:158).

Sa’i Between Safa and Marwah

The Sa’i between Safa and Marwah is an act of worship that reminds us of the profound Iman of Hajar (wife of Prophet Ibrahim’s may Allah’s salam be upon them), as she searched for water for her son Ismail (may Allah’s salam be upon him), in a barren valley without vegetation or water, with her firm Iman that Allah would not forsake her. Al-Bukhari narrated in his Sahih from Ibnu ‘Abbas, may Allah be pleased with them both, the details of this touching scene.

Description of Safa and Marwah

Safa: Located south of the Grand Mosque near “Safa Gate,” it is an elevated place with a length of six meters and a width of three meters, accessible via four steps.

Marwah: Located northeast of the Grand Mosque at Mount Qaiqan, it is accessible via five steps connected to a platform.

History of the Sa’i Path

For centuries, the Sa’i path remained a dirt road until steps were built to facilitate climbing Safa and Marwah during the caliphate of Abu Ja’far al-Mansur.

Later, it was improved and paved to ease the performance of the rituals. It is believed that the first to start levelling and paving the Sa’i path was the Caliph Muhammad al-Mahdi, who significantly expanded the Grand Mosque from all its sides and personally oversaw the works of engineers and workers. Subsequent rulers continued to repair the Sa’i path as needed.

Developments in the Saudi Era (1932 – Present)

• Paving the Sa’i Path: In 1345 AH, King ‘Abdul-‘Aziz al-Saud, may Allah have mercy on him, ordered the paving of the Sa’i path with square stones to facilitate the Sa’i.
• Renewal of the Sa’i Canopies: In 1366 AH, the canopy extending from Safa to Marwah was renewed to provide shade.
• Sa’i Path Construction Project: In 1375 AH, the project for the expansion of the Grand Mosque and the Sa’i path began to facilitate the movement of pilgrims.
•  Demolition of Marwah and Safa: The cracked Marwah parts was demolished in 1376 AH, and the Safa cracked parts in 1377 AH, to rebuild the steps

Sa’i in the Modern Era

The Sa’i path continued to develop in the Kingdom, with modern facilities such as air conditioning and advanced canopies providing comfort to pilgrims. Logistical systems were improved to ease movement and organize Sa’i, making the area capable of accommodating large numbers of pilgrims safely and comfortably.

Conclusion

The Sa’i between Safa and Marwah is one of the holiest rituals, and the history of this area reflects a series of continuous developments that began in the prophetic era and continue into modern Saudi times. These developments have enhanced the Sa’i experience and met the needs of pilgrims, reflecting the Kingdom’s commitment to providing the best services to the guests of Allah in accordance with the highest standards of comfort and safety.