Safa and Marwa are two small hills located in the Masjid al-Haram in Mecca. They are an important part of the Hajj and Umrah pilgrimage and are associated with the story of Prophet Ibrahim and his wife Hagar. According to Islamic tradition, Prophet Ibrahim was commanded by God to leave his wife Hagar and their infant son Ismail in the barren desert of Mecca. After their provisions ran out, Hagar ran back and forth between the hills of Safa and Marwa in search of water for her son. Miraculously, a spring of water known as the Zamzam well appeared at the feet of her son, which provided them with sustenance.
Suggested Duration - 1-2 hours
To commemorate this story, Muslims perform the ritual of Sa'i, which involves running back and forth between the hills of Safa and Marwa seven times during the Hajj and Umrah pilgrimage. The ritual is performed after completing the Tawaf (circumambulation) of the Kaaba and before the final act of cutting the hair.
The joy of travel comes in exploring new things. Planting your feet somewhere you’ve never been before brings with it the rush of discovery and the joy of pushing back on the boundaries of your world.
But when one does arrive at that fresh frontier, there are ways better than others to begin your journey of discovery. Follow these steps and see the world with a new light.
• Discover a new city through a food tour. Food tour’s are the easiest way to take a tour, learn about the local delicacies, and the best of all, get great tips that aren’t just “local” tips for tourists, but sometimes, lessons for a lifetime too
• Use Public Transportation. When you are in a new city, you can possibly see places and people that you wouldn’t normally see when simply walking to the places that checks your list. Some buses or rails take you to parts of the city you wouldn’t get to see otherwise. Whilst using public transportation, just ensure that you are following the local norms and do remember to watch the locals!
• Find a local festival. Go beyond what other tourists might do while visiting a place. Look for the unique things you would want to do. Use social media or the local tourism website to find out what’s going on locally. You may have to move out of the center of the city to do some of the less popular but more unique things, so just keep that in mind!
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