Hajj: Its Rulings, Pillars,Manners and Obligations (Part 3)

The manner of performing As-Sa’y and its rulings and obligations.

• Hajj consists of four pillars or acts, which one must do so that Hajj is complete. The third pillar: Sa’y means to walk between As-Safaa and Al-Marwah, coming and going (back and forth) with the intention of worshipping Allah ﷻ . Allah ﷻ says:

إِنَّ ٱلصَّفَا وَٱلْمَرْوَةَ مِن شَعَآئِرِ ٱللَّهِ ۖ ( سورة البقرة : ١٥٨)

“Indeed, as-Safaa and al-Marwah are among the symbols of Allah.” [Soorat al-Baqarah: 158]

• The sa’y has conditions, which must be observed:
  • Intention: It is necessary to have the intention of perform the acts of worship when making sa’y out of obedience to Allah ﷻ , and carrying out His command.
  • The pilgrim must keep the proper order between sa’y and tawaaf by performing tawaaf before sa’y
  • The sa’y should occur after the correct performance of tawaaf.
    It is better if it is performed after an obligatory tawaaf or a tawaaf that is a pillar.
  • Make the trips between As-Safaa and Al-Marwah in quick succession.
    A brief break between them is permissible as long as it is necessary.
  • Complete all seven trips.
    If one trip or part of a trip is left out the sa’y is not acceptable.
• The sunan of sa’y are as follows:
  • Al-Khabab. The fast paced walking by men between the two green marks, and walking at a normal pace beyond and before the two marks.
    This indicates the place at the two ends of the old valley, where Haajar, the mother of Isma’eel, ran.
  • Supplicating on both As-Safaa and Al-Marwah during every trip of the seven trips between them.
  • Al-Wuqoof (standing) upon As-Safaa and Al-Marwah to supplicate on top of them. Saying ‘Allaahu Akbar’ (Allah is the Most Great) three times when walking up As- Safaa and Al- Marwah during every trip. The following should be recited:

Laa ilaaha ill Al-laahu wah-dahu laa shareeka lah Lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamdu, wa Huwa ‘alaa kulli shay’in Qadeer.Laa ilaaha ill allaahu wah-dahu, anjaza wa’dahu, wa nasara ‘abdahu, wa hazamal-ahzaaba wahdahu.

لا إله إلا اللهُ وَحْدَهُ وَحَدَهُ لا شَريكَ لَهُ لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرُ لا إله إلا الله وحدَهُ أَنْجَزَ وَعَدَهُ وَنَصَرَ عَبْدَهُ وَهَزَمَ الْأَحْزَابَ وَحْدَهُ. (صحیح مسلم )

“There is none worthy of being worshipped except Allah alone, Who has no partner. His is the sovereignty and to Him belongs the praise, and He has power over all things. There is none worthy of being worshipped except Allah ﷻ alone. He was truthful in His promise, He helped his servant and He defeated the clans (of disbelievers) alone. (Al-Bukhaari)

• Performing sa’y immediately after tawaaf while not taking a break between them without an excuse that is accepted in Islam.
  The method of performing the sa’y is as follows:
  To enter the mas’aa (place of sa’y) from mount Safaa as Allah ﷻ says:

*Indeed, as-Safaa and al-Marwah are among the symbols of Allah. So whoever makes Hajj (pilgrimage) 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.” [Soorat al-Baqarah: 158]

• It is recommended that the person performing the sa’y should be in a state of purity.
• The person should perform Sa’y on foot if he/she is able to do so.
• The pilgrim must utter many statements in remembrance of Allah
• He must protect his eyes and tongue from all forbidden things.
• He/she should not harm anyone.
• The pilgrim must try to adhere to all these guidelines and he will feel within himself a sense of humility and a need for Allah to guide his heart, purify his soul and protect him. Note: going from Al-Safaa to Al-Marwah is counted as one round of the sa’y. The person will begin his sa’y at Al-Safaa and end it at Al-Marwah.

What we learn from the lesson:

1. Sa’y is the third pillar of Hajj.
2. Sa’y means to walk between As-Safaa and Al Marwah, coming and going (back and forth) with the intention of worshipping Allah.
3. Sa’y consists of seven rounds and all its conditions must be followed.
4. The manners of sa’y prepare the pilgrim spiritually and purify him/ her.