Safa and Marwa are two small hills located inside the Masjid al-Haram (the Grand Mosque) in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, mentioned in the Qur’an (Surah al-Baqarah 2:158) as among the honored symbols of Allah ﷻ. During Hajj and ‘Umrah, pilgrims perform Sa’i, walking between these hills in remembrance of Hajar (عليها السلام), who ran in search of water for her son Isma’il (عليه السلام). This rite comes right after Tawaf dua and is connected with the Umrah niyat dua, forming a central part of the pilgrimage journey. This rite carries deep lessons of faith, patience, and complete trust in Allah. At Safa and Marwa, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught pilgrims to recite a special dua—beginning with the praise of Allah and the declaration of His Oneness—before raising their hands in personal supplication.
In this blog, we share the authentic Dua for Safa and Marwa with its Arabic text, transliteration, and translation, along with simple guidance on when and how to recite it during Sa’i.
Authentic Dua for Safa and Marwa (Arabic, Transliteration, Translation)
When starting Sa’i at Safa and Marwa, the Qur’an reminds us:
إِنَّ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةَ مِنْ شَعَائِرِ اللَّهِ
“Indeed, Safa and Marwa are among the symbols of Allah.” (Surah al-Baqarah 2:158)
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ would begin at Safa by reciting:
أَبْدَأُ بِمَا بَدَأَ اللَّهُ بِهِ
“I begin with what Allah began with.”
Then he would raise his hands facing the Ka‘bah and recite the following dua three times before making personal supplications:
اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ Transliteration: Allāhu akbar, Allāhu akbar, Allāhu akbar. Translation: Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest.
لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ
لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ
أَنْجَزَ وَعْدَهُ، وَنَصَرَ عَبْدَهُ، وَهَزَمَ الْأَحْزَابَ وَحْدَهُ
Lā ilāha illallāhu waḥdahu lā sharīka lah.
Lahul-mulku walahul-ḥamdu wa huwa ʿalā kulli shay’in qadīr.
Lā ilāha illallāhu waḥdah.
Anjaza waʿdah, wa naṣara ʿabdah, wa hazamal-aḥzāba waḥdah.
None has the right to be worshipped except Allah alone, without partner.
To Him belongs all dominion and all praise, and He has power over everything.
None has the right to be worshipped except Allah alone.
He fulfilled His promise, granted victory to His servant, and defeated the confederates alone.
This spirit of divine mercy is also reflected in the dua for forgiveness and the dua for repentance that Muslims recite in daily life.
When to Recite the Dua (Safa, Marwa, and during Sa’i)?
The dua for Safa and Marwa is recited at the beginning and end of each round of Sa’i during Hajj and ‘Umrah. When a pilgrim reaches Safa, they face the Ka‘bah, lift their hands, and recite the Qur’anic verse followed by the prophetic dua three times. After this, they may continue with personal prayers from the heart. The same Sunnah is practiced again upon reaching Marwa.
As for the walk between the two hills, no fixed words are prescribed. Pilgrims are encouraged to fill this part of Sa’i with dhikr (remembrance of Allah), recitation of Qur’an, and their own duas—seeking forgiveness, guidance, and blessings. Some also include the dua after finishing Quran or the dua for rizq and sustenance as part of their personal supplications.
Men also perform a brisk walk (raml) between the two green markers, honoring the perseverance of Hajar (عليها السلام) in her search for water.
In short, the prophetic dua belongs to Safa and Marwa themselves, while the distance in between is a time for continuous remembrance and personal supplication.
Etiquette of Reciting the Dua (Adab at Safa and Marwa)
When reciting the dua at Safa and Marwa, a pilgrim should follow the etiquette of supplication shown by the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
- He faced the Ka‘bah, raised his hands, and began with takbīr (“Allāhu Akbar”) and tahlīl (“Lā ilāha illallāh”), affirming Allah’s Oneness before continuing with personal prayers.
- The Sunnah encourages sending blessings upon the Prophet ﷺ, glorifying Allah, and repeating the prescribed dua three times, followed by heartfelt supplications. Pilgrims are urged to approach this moment with sincerity (ikhlāṣ), deep reverence (khushū‘), and trust in Allah (tawakkul).
- Dua should not be limited to personal needs alone. A believer is encouraged to pray for family, loved ones, and the wider Ummah, asking Allah ﷻ for forgiveness, mercy, and lasting blessings.
This includes the dua for parents, dua for siblings, and dua for Palestine, keeping the Ummah united in prayer.
Showing gratitude (shukr) while recognizing one’s weakness before Allah adds depth and humility to the spiritual journey of Sa’i.
FAQs — Dua for Safa and Marwa
Mohammed Basheer is the founder of Sukoonly.com, an Islamic blog focused on duas, prophetic healing, and Qur’anic wisdom. He writes with sincerity and spiritual depth for seekers around the world.