Is It Permissible to Perform Sa’i Before Tawaf al-Ifadah? Complete Shariah Guidance
Source: Fatāwā Arkān al-Islām
Question
Is it permissible for a pilgrim to perform Sa’i before Tawaf al-Ifādah?
Answer
Alḥamdulillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, Ammā Baʿd!
For a Mufrid or Qarin Pilgrim
If a pilgrim is performing Hajj Mufrad or Hajj Qirān, it is permissible for him to perform the Sa’i of Hajj before Tawaf al-Ifādah.
He may perform this Sa’i after Tawaf al-Qudūm, as the Prophet ﷺ did, along with the Companions (RA) who had brought sacrificial animals with them.
For a Mutamatti’ Pilgrim
A Hajj Tamattuʿ pilgrim must perform two separate Sa’i:
❀ First Sa’i — Performed upon arrival in Makkah for ʿUmrah:
◈ Perform Tawaf
◈ Perform Sa’i
◈ Shave or trim the hair
❀ Second Sa’i — Performed for Hajj:
◈ The best practice is to perform it after Tawaf al-Ifādah, because the principle is that Sa’i follows Tawaf.
◈ However, according to the stronger opinion, if the pilgrim performs this Sa’i before Tawaf, there is no harm.
Evidence:
The Prophet ﷺ said:
«لَا حَرَجَ» — “There is no harm.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Ḥajj, Ḥadīth: 1734; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb al-Ḥajj, Ḥadīth: 1306; Sunan Abī Dāwūd, Kitāb al-Manāsik, Ḥadīth: 2015 — wording from Abū Dāwūd)
Five Main Acts of the Day of Eid
On the Day of Eid, a pilgrim has five main acts, ideally in order:
➊ Stoning Jamrat al-ʿAqabah
➋ Slaughtering the sacrificial animal
➌ Shaving or trimming the hair
➍ Tawaf al-Ifādah of the Kaʿbah
➎ Sa’i between Ṣafā and Marwah
If a Qarin or Mufrid pilgrim has already performed Sa’i after Tawaf al-Qudūm, he does not need to repeat it.
Order and Flexibility
◈ Performing these acts in sequence is best.
◈ However, when needed, changing the order is permissible.
◈ This flexibility is a mercy and ease from Allah.
ھٰذا ما عندي واللہ أعلم بالصواب
(This is my opinion, and Allah knows best what is correct.)
