The Talbiyah of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him): "Labbayka Allāhumma labbayk, labbayka la sharīka laka labbayk, inna al-hamda wa an-ni‘mata laka wal-mulk, la sharīka lak." (O Allah, I respond to Your call, I do respond. I respond to Your call, You have no partner, I do respond. Verily, praise, blessing, and sovereignty belong to You; You have no partner)

Arabic text

عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُمَا: أَنَّ تَلْبِيَةَ رَسُولِ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «لَبَّيْكَ اللهُمَّ، لَبَّيْكَ، لَبَّيْكَ لَا شَرِيكَ لَكَ لَبَّيْكَ، إِنَّ الْحَمْدَ وَالنِّعْمَةَ لَكَ وَالْمُلْكَ لَا شَرِيكَ لَكَ» قَالَ: وَكَانَ عَبْدُ اللهِ بْنُ عُمَرَ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُمَا يَزِيدُ فِيهَا: لَبَّيْكَ لَبَّيْكَ، وَسَعْدَيْكَ، وَالْخَيْرُ بِيَدَيْكَ، لَبَّيْكَ وَالرَّغْبَاءُ إِلَيْكَ وَالْعَمَلُ.

Translation

‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) reported: The Talbiyah of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him): "Labbayka Allāhumma labbayk, labbayka la sharīka laka labbayk, inna al-hamda wa an-ni‘mata laka wal-mulk, la sharīka lak." (O Allah, I respond to Your call, I do respond. I respond to Your call, You have no partner, I do respond. Verily, praise, blessing, and sovereignty belong to You; You have no partner) He said: ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) used to add: Labbayka labbayka, wa sa‘dayka, wa al-khayru biyadayk. Labbayka wa ar-raghbā’u ilayka wa al-‘amal (I respond to Your call, I respond to Your call, and I ask You to make me happy.) Goodness is in Your Hands. I respond to Your call, and to You belong desires and actions).

Explanation

The Talbiyah of the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), when intending to start the rituals of Hajj or ‘Umrah, was to say: (O Allah, I respond to Your call, I do respond) duly time and again regarding what You have called us to, including sincerity, monotheism, Hajj, and others. (I respond to Your call, You have no partner, I do respond) for You alone are worthy of worship, and You have no partner in Your lordship, worship, names, and attributes.) (Verily, praise), gratitude, commendation, and (blessing) are from You, and You are the One Who gives them; (to You) they are directed in all circumstances, (and sovereignty) also belongs to You. (You have no partner), as they all belong to You alone. Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) used to add: (I respond to Your call, I respond to Your call, and I ask You to make me happy), i.e., make me happy time and again. (Goodness is in Your Hands) all of it and out of Your grace. (I respond to Your call and to You belong desires), requests, and demands, i.e., to the One in Whose Hands goodness lies (and actions), as You are the One worthy of worship.

Benefits

• The legitimacy of saying Talbiyah in Hajj and ‘Umrah is more confirmed in both cases because it is their special slogan, just as Takbīr is the slogan of prayer.
• Ibn al-Munīr said: The legitimacy of Talbiyah highlights the honor that Allah Almighty bestows upon His slaves, as their arrival at His House is by invitation from Him, Glorified and Exalted be He.
• It is preferable to adhere to the Prophet's Talbiyah, and there is nothing wrong with the addition, given the Prophet's approval of it. Ibn Hajar said: This is the most balanced approach. One should recite what has been transmitted as Marfū‘ (directly attributed to the Prophet) separately, and if one chooses to say something that is Mawqūf (attributed to a Companion) or something he has composed himself that is appropriate, he should say it separately so it does not mix with the Marfū‘. This is similar to the supplication during Tashahhud, where he said: Then let him choose from requests and praises whatever he wishes, i.e., after he finishes reciting the Marfū‘.
• It is recommended for men to raise their voice with Talbiyah, as for women, they should lower their voice for fear of temptation.

Topics

• Jurisprudence and Juristic Principles
• Jurisprudence of Acts of Worship
• Hajj and ‘Umrah
• Rulings of Ihraam (the Ritual State of Consecration)