Gallery of the mas’a between Safa and Marwa, with ornate windows, columns and pilgrims walking.

Safa and Marwa

A covered gallery between the hills of Safa and Marwa, inside the Sacred Mosque, where the sa'i is performed: seven laps that begin at Safa and end at Marwa.

  • Sacred Mosque
  • Suggested time:1 to 2 h
  • Area:Masjid al-Haram, east side

About Safa and Marwa

The small hills of Safa and Marwa lie on the east side of the Masjid al-Haram, and the path between them, the mas'a, was incorporated into the mosque's architecture in 1956. Today it is a four-story gallery about 40 m wide. Each stretch measures a little under 400 m, and the seven laps of the sa'i add up to around 2.8 km. Islamic tradition links the rite to Hajar, wife of the Prophet Ibrahim, who walked between the two hills in search of water for her son Ismail.

Midway along the path, green lights mark the lowest point of the old valley. There are different guidelines for men and women on this stretch, and your group will explain what to do. Since it is almost 3 km on foot, drink water before you begin and set aside time to rest afterward.

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Image credit

  • Light streams through the windows of the mas’a, the gallery between Safa and Marwa. Archive photo published in 2011.Photo: Aiman titi · CC BY-SA 3.0 · original

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