It is preferable to verbally utter the niyyah as follows...

It is preferable to verbally utter the niyyah as follows: “I 27 There are two landmarks en route between Safa and Marwah, some 50 yards apart, they are closer to Marwah mount than Safa. perform the sa‘y between the Safa and the Marwah seven rounds for the Tamattu‘ Umrah seeking nearness to Allah Almighty”. Starting the sa‘y from the Safa It is mandatory to start the sa‘y from the Safa, and for this it is not mandatory to step on the rocks of the mount.

Finishing the sa‘y at the Marwah It is mandatory to finish the sa‘y at Marwah, and for this it is not mandatory to touch one’s toes to the rocks of the mount of Marwah. If he contradicted this and began [the sa‘y] at Marwah, even by oversight, his sa‘y is invalidated and as a precaution he should perform a new sa‘y. The number of rounds It is obligatory to cover the distance between the mounts of Safa and Marwah seven times with nothing more or less.

Thus there will be four journeys from Safa to Marwah and three journeys from Marwah to Safa, all together seven rounds. The normally accepted route It is mandatory to go through the route that is normally accepted, thus if he deviated from the route by entering the Mosque and leaving it to re-enter the route of the sa‘y again, or if he left the route of the sa‘y to go to the shops and come back to the route of the sa‘y again, that [excursion] would not be accepted [as part of the sa‘y].

However, it is permissible to drink water from the designated areas en route. There is no objection to performing the sa‘y on the first floor or the roof – the second floor – if one opted to do so. Facing the destination In the course of performing the sa‘y, it is mandatory to be facing the destination, and therefore if he was heading for the mount of Marwah he should be facing Marwah, and if he departed Marwah, heading for Safa, he should be facing Safa.

It is not permitted to walk backwards or sideways. There is no objection, however, to turn the head to the left or right, or even to the back, so long as the body is in the direction of the journey of the sa‘y. While standing, there is no objection to turning the whole body even if that constitute turning one’s back to the destination direction, similarly there is no objection if one deviated to the right when coming down from the Safa.

Animals or other things used must be legal It is not permitted to perform the sa‘y on an animal that is usurped and such like.