Ruling on Performing Sa’i Before Tawaf in Umrah
Source: Fatāwā Arkān al-Islām
If someone performs Sa’i before Tawaf during Umrah and then performs the Tawaf afterwards, what is required of him?
Alḥamdulillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, Ammā Baʿd!
If a person performing Umrah completes Sa’i before Tawaf and then performs Tawaf afterwards, it is obligatory for him to repeat the Sa’i.
The reason is that maintaining the correct order (tartīb) between Tawaf and Sa’i is wājib. The Prophet ﷺ maintained this order and taught it in the same way.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
«لِتَأْخُذُوا مَنَاسِكِكُمْ»
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Ḥadīth: 83; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Ḥadīth: 1297)
“Learn your rituals (of Hajj and Umrah) from me.”
From his practice, the Prophet ﷺ taught that Tawaf is performed first, followed by Sa’i.
If someone performs Sa’i first claiming tiredness as the reason, he may receive reward for his effort, but this mistake cannot be considered correct.
Some Tābiʿīn and scholars hold that if someone mistakenly or due to ignorance performs Sa’i before Tawaf, nothing is required from him in Umrah — just as nothing is required in Hajj if this happens.
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
(This is my opinion, and Allah knows best what is correct.)
Source: Fatāwā Arkān al-Islām
Question
If someone performs Sa’i before Tawaf during Umrah and then performs the Tawaf afterwards, what is required of him?
Answer
Alḥamdulillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, Ammā Baʿd!
If a person performing Umrah completes Sa’i before Tawaf and then performs Tawaf afterwards, it is obligatory for him to repeat the Sa’i.
The reason is that maintaining the correct order (tartīb) between Tawaf and Sa’i is wājib. The Prophet ﷺ maintained this order and taught it in the same way.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
«لِتَأْخُذُوا مَنَاسِكِكُمْ»
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Ḥadīth: 83; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Ḥadīth: 1297)
“Learn your rituals (of Hajj and Umrah) from me.”
From his practice, the Prophet ﷺ taught that Tawaf is performed first, followed by Sa’i.
If someone performs Sa’i first claiming tiredness as the reason, he may receive reward for his effort, but this mistake cannot be considered correct.
Other Scholarly Opinions
Some Tābiʿīn and scholars hold that if someone mistakenly or due to ignorance performs Sa’i before Tawaf, nothing is required from him in Umrah — just as nothing is required in Hajj if this happens.
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
(This is my opinion, and Allah knows best what is correct.)
