There are many licensed barbershops around the Grand Mosque to shave off the head hair of Hajj and 'Umrah pilgrims. These shops are equipped for a safe shave in a healthy environment.

At the barbershop, make sure that a barber

• Uses a single-use disposable razor
• Disposes of used tools and uses new ones
• Washes his hands with soap and water before starting the shave

It is prescribed to shave or shorten the hair of the head in the worship of Allah after the rituals of pilgrimage have been completed, just as the person in Ihram used to worship Allah by not shaving his hair; in both cases, he is a worshipper of Allah and submits to Him.

Shaving and trimming hair during Hajj

• This happens after stoning Jamrat Al Aqabah on the Day of Sacrifice (Eid).

Shaving and trimming hair during Umrah

• This happens after completing the circumambulation and Sa’i.

Shaving and trimming for men

• It is prescribed for male pilgrims performing Hajj or Umrah to completely have the hair of their head shaven, or shorten all, or most of the hair on their head, the former is better.

Women can only cut a little of their hair

• A woman can only shorten her hair, whether she performs Hajj or Umrah. She gathers her hair and cuts 1-2 cm of it.

Please note

• Pilgrims performing Hajj or Umrah should only have their hair shaved in the places designated for that in order to keep the Haram clean and unpolluted.

A person who is unable to walk due to disability, tiredness, illness, or old age may perform Sa'i while riding, and he must remain awake and attentive because he is involved in an act of worship. He should fill his time with supplication to Allah, say Takbir, and supplicate whenever he reaches Safa or Marwa.

Various types of wheelchairs are available for circumambulation

Wheelchairs for Pilgrims

• A pilgrim having a wheelchair is allowed to use it provided that he uses the gates designated for people with disability

Free Wheelchairs

• Free wheelchairs are available for pilgrims performing Hajj or Umrah if one has someone to help them during Sa'i

These wheelchairs can be accessed at the following points

• Eastern square (bus entry gate)
• Southern square (next to Endowment of King Abdulaziz)
• Western square (Shubaikah Gate)

Pushing Wheelchair Service

• These are young men trained to push the wheelchaired people

Service Points

• The ground floor of the Tawaf yard (starting line) (Link to website)
• The ground floor of the Tawaf yard (Gate 14)
• The second floor of the Tawaf yard (the Al-Arqam Escalators)
• Endowment of King Abdul Aziz

Electric Wheelchairs

• These are safe power wheelchairs that are easy to drive and control during circumambulation and Sa'i
• There are two types: one-person and two-person electric wheelchairs

Service Access Points

• Electric wheelchairs are located on the first Mezzanine floor of circumambulation and Sa'i

What are Safa and Marwa?

• Safa and Marwa are two small hills on which Ismail's mother, Hagar, climbed in search of food or water.

Safa

• It is a small hill from which Sa'i begins. The rocks of the hill are still visible on the ground floor there.

Marwa

• It is a small hill where the round of Sa'i ends.

Sa'i is an important rite

• Performing Sa'i between Safa and Marwa is a ritual of Hajj and Umrah alike. Allah the Exalted said: {Indeed, Safa and Marwa are among the symbols of Allah. So whoever makes Hajj to the House or performs Umrah - there is no blame upon him for walking between them}.
• The pilgrim performing Hajj or Umrah worships his Lord by crossing the distance between Safa and Marwa seven times, as did his Noble Messenger (blessings and peace be upon him).

The beginning and end of Sa'i

• You start your Sa'i from Safa, heading towards Marwa. Upon reaching Marwa, you have completed one round. Crossing the distance back to Safa fulfills the second round, and so on, until the seventh-round ends at Marwa.

Supplication at the beginning of Safa and Marwa

• When you arrive at the beginning of Safa and Marwa, it is Sunnah to raise your hands, face the Qiblah and supplicate to Allah, saying: “Allahu Akbar” before starting a new round.

The two green signs

• It is recommended for capable men to run between the two green signs, following the example of the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace be upon him).

Supplication during Sa'i

• A pilgrim should fill the entire time of his Sa'i with remembrance and supplication to Allah or with reciting the Quran.

The Prophet's supplication during Sa'i

• When the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace be upon him) first reached Safa after the circumambulation, he would recite this part of the Quranic Ayah {Indeed, Safa and Marwa are among the symbols of Allah}, and would add: {Begin with what Allah began with}.
• When climbing up Safa and Marwa, the Prophet (blessings and peace be upon him) used to face the Qiblah and recite: "Allah is the greatest. Allah is the greatest. There is no true god but Allah alone. He has no partner. His is the Sovereignty, to Him praise is due and He is powerful over everything. There is no true god but Allah alone. He fulfilled His promise, helped His servant to victory, and alone routed the Confederates". After that he shall supplicate with whatever he wishes, repeat the above remembrance, and proceed with Sa'i.

The person performing Sa'i should not stop to say prayers in a place if that disrupts the flow of pedestrians and causes crowding. He must adhere to the instructions of security personnel in the sanctuary.

What are Safa and Marwa?

• Two hills that Hagar (mother of Ismail, peace be upon him) climbed in search of food and water
• Safa: a hill at which Sa'i begins. Its rocks are still visible on the ground floor of Al Masaa
• Marwa: a hill opposite Safa at which Sa'i ends

Al Masaa in Figures

• Length: 394 m
• Total walking distance of the seven rounds: approximately 2,761 m
• Average time to complete Sa'i: 45-55 minutes. Walking speed varies depending on several factors

Al Masaa Floors

Al Masaa comprises several floors, with a total area of 87,000 square meters. Those floors are:

• Basement
• Ground floor
• The Mezzanine Floor for electric wheelchairs
• 1st floor
• 2nd floor
• Al Masaa roof

• When you finish the circumambulation, you will see guide signs inside the Grand Mosque that guide you to Al Masaa, and point to Safaa where you should start Sa'i.
• It is advisable to go to Al Masaa on the upper floors in order to avoid crowding on the ground floor so as to make Sa'i easier for everyone.
• A person performing Sa'i should occupy himself all the time with the remembrance of Allah and supplicating Him or reading the Quran. He should not stop to pray in a place where he obstructs movement and causes crowding. He must adhere to the instructions of the security and regulation personnel in Haram.
• Speeding up during Sa'i for men is only applicable between the two green flags, and not throughout the duration of Sa'i.
• If the iqamah for prayer is being established, those performing Sa'i should stop and pray with the congregation, and then resume their Sa'i from where they have left off.
• If you are diabetic, start Sa'i only after taking sufficient medications and food. Try to keep your feet unharmed. You should rest when you feel your blood sugar drops.
• You can use a wheelchair if you feel ill or tired.
• Beware of polluting the sanctuary by cutting hair inside the place of Sa'i. There are many barbershops near the Sanctuary.