Duas of Sa'i Between Safa and Marwah

The short answer: sa'i has one established remembrance with fixed wording, which you say three times on Safa and three times on Marwah, making your own dua after each. Only on the first climb of Safa do you recite the verse and say "I begin with what Allah began with". Between laps there is no specific dua, so pray as you wish.

This page belongs to the guide Umrah for Women, Step by Step, and comes right after the dua for tawaf around the Kaaba.

The steps of sa'i in order

1. As you approach Safa for the first time, recite the verse:

1. Then say: "Abda'u bima bada'a Allahu bihi" (I begin with what Allah began with). This is said once, at the start of sa'i, not every lap.
2. Climb Safa until you can see the Kaaba if possible, face it and raise your hands as in dua.
3. Say the established remembrance three times, praying for whatever you wish in between.
4. Walk down to Marwah. Men walk briskly between the green markers.
5. On Marwah, do exactly what you did on Safa, without the verse.
6. Repeat until you complete seven laps: going is one lap, returning is another.

The remembrance at Safa and Marwah

This is what the Prophet ﷺ said on Safa and then on Marwah, word for word from Jabir's hadith:

Meaning: "Allah is the Greatest (three times). There is no god but Allah alone, without partner. His is the dominion and His is the praise, and He has power over all things. There is no god but Allah alone. He fulfilled His promise, aided His servant, and alone defeated the confederates." Jabir said: "He began with Safa and climbed it until he saw the House, faced the qiblah, declared Allah's oneness and greatness... then made dua in between, saying this three times... and on Marwah he did as he had done on Safa" (Muslim 1218).

In practice:

• Say Allahu akbar three times and the full remembrance, then make your own dua.
• Repeat the remembrance a second time, then make dua.
• Repeat it a third time, then walk down.

Sa'i lap counter

Tick each lap as you finish it. Your progress stays saved on your device.

Tip: odd laps always end at Marwah. If you find yourself finishing lap seven at Safa, you have been counting a round trip as one lap.

What to say between the green markers

No dua from the Prophet ﷺ himself is established between the markers. It is authentically reported that Ibn Mas'ud and Ibn Umar used to say:

"My Lord, forgive and have mercy, You are the Most Mighty, the Most Generous." Reported by Ibn Abi Shaybah as their own words, not the Prophet's. Saying it is fine, without treating it as a Prophetic Sunnah.

• Men: walk briskly between the markers (al-Bukhari 1644).
• Women: walk normally throughout sa'i.

Questions people ask about sa'i

Common mistakes in sa'i

• Reciting the verse and "I begin with what Allah began with" every lap; it is once at the start.
• Raising the hands towards the Kaaba as in the opening takbir of prayer; raise them as in dua.
• Counting a round trip as one lap, making fourteen.
• Women hurrying between the green markers, which is for men only.

What comes after sa'i?

Once lap seven ends at Marwah, only shaving or trimming remains, and your Umrah is complete. If you are planning from the start, read the Umrah intention, miqat dua and talbiyah, then return to the full Umrah guide.