Article 236
Some obligatory things in Sa’y:
First: Niyyah (intention) – it is obligatory that the pilgrim performs “Sa’y” with “intention” for the satisfaction of Allah, and as much as he/she knows what is he/she doing and it is for Hajj or Umrah then it is enough, and it is not necessary to say it in words.
Second: Sa’y begins from “Safa”
Third: finishes at “Marwah” (as it has been mentioned before, Safa and Marwah are two small hills near Masjid al-Haraam and when a pilgrim exits Masjid al-Haraam he/she sees “Safa” in the right side and “Marwah” in the left, therefore Hajji first goes to Safa and begins Sa’y from there).
Going from Safa to Marwah is considered as one round and returning from that is considered as another round, therefore the seventh rounds ends in Marwah.
Article 237
The pilgrim should go the whole the distance between these two hills and it is enough to go through the slope because today a part of hillside has been covered and there is no need to reach the bare part of the hill and place his/her foot on that place, and perform some vilifying acts of some of commons.
Fourth: Sa’y of Safa and Marwah should be performed in seven complete rounds, nothing more and nothing less, and if the pilgrim increases or reduces it deliberately then his/her Sa’y is invalidated and if this has happened involuntarily then he/she should complete that before that sequence passes in the case of reducing, and increasing it involuntarily has no problem.
Fifth: Sa’y of Safa and Marwah should be performed in its normal way, therefore if a part of it is performed from inside Masjid al-Haraam or the outer places then this Sa’y is not correct; also performing Sa’y in the upper level which has been made nowadays and is upper than Safa and Marwah is a problem, unless there is a strong necessity and performing from the grounds could not be possible, in this case Sa’y from the upper level is permitted.
Sixth: It is obligatory to face Marwah when proceeding to it and to face Safa in returning to that hill, and if a person performs this contrarily and place his/her back to Marwah during going to that and goes backward or in right or left hand, then it has problem. It is enough for a pilgrim to shuttle in a normal way, although he/she sometimes turns his/her head to right or left or for observing other companions sometimes looks back.
Seventh: It is obligatory precaution in order for correctness of Sa’y, that the personal clothes and stuff of the pilgrim be not usurped; also covering private parts for men and religious veil for women is a precaution.
Article 238
It is not necessary to perform Sa’y immediately after Tawaf and its prayer, but it can be delayed until the night because of tiredness or heat of the weather. Also it is permitted without tiredness or heat of the weather, but delaying until the next day is not permitted without any necessity. If a person delays Sa’y until the next day he/she has performed a sin but his/her Sa’y is not invalidated.