The strip of land between Mount Safa and Mount Marwah is called Masaa. This is the place where Hajra (peace be upon her) rushed seven times to find out if she could find some water or someone from whom she could get it to give her baby Ismail (peace be upon him). This action is copied by all the pilgrims who perform the hajj or Umrah, and is called Sa’ee.
When Hajra (peace be upon her) passed through the valley between Safa and Marwah in search of water, she kept her eye on her little son Ismail (peace be upon him). However, for part of the valley he was hidden from view, and she ran that length. It is by imitating this action that men are obliged to rush through the same section of Masaa. The area where she ran is clearly marked today with green lighting.
The distance between the Safa and Marwah mountains is approximately 450 meters, which means that the seven trips traveled are approximately 1.96 miles (3.15 km).