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Key points
- The talbiyah is the call of the pilgrim: “Here I am, O Allah, here I am.” It is the words the Prophet ﷺ himself said, reported in Bukhari and Muslim.
- Start it right after making the niyyah of ihram at the miqat, and repeat it often on the way.
- In Umrah, stop when you begin tawaf. In Hajj, stop when you throw the first pebble at Jamrat al-Aqabah on 10 Dhul Hijjah.
- Men say it aloud. Women say it softly, so that only those near them hear.
The talbiyah
These are the words of the Prophet ﷺ, as reported by Abdullah ibn Umar (RA).
The talbiyah
لَبَّيْكَ اللَّهُمَّ لَبَّيْكَ، لَبَّيْكَ لَا شَرِيكَ لَكَ لَبَّيْكَ، إِنَّ الْحَمْدَ وَالنِّعْمَةَ لَكَ وَالْمُلْكَ، لَا شَرِيكَ لَكَ
Labbaik Allahumma labbaik. Labbaik, la sharika laka, labbaik. Innal-hamda wan-ni‘mata laka wal-mulk. La sharika lak.
Here I am, O Allah, here I am. Here I am, You have no partner, here I am. All praise and all blessings are Yours, and all sovereignty. You have no partner.
Sahih al-Bukhari 1549; Sahih Muslim 1184
What the words mean
- Labbaik: “Here I am”, answering a call, ready to obey
- Allahumma: “O Allah”
- La sharika lak: “You have no partner”
- Innal-hamda: “all praise belongs (to You)”
- Wan-ni‘mata: “and every blessing”
- Wal-mulk: “and all sovereignty, the whole kingdom”
Many scholars explain that the pilgrim is answering the call of Ibrahim (AS), whom Allah told to call people to Hajj (Qur’an 22:27).
When to start and when to stop
- 1
Step 1
Start
Put on ihram, make the niyyah at the miqat (for Umrah you may say “Labbaik Allahumma ‘umrah”), then begin the talbiyah. From India this is usually on the plane, when the crew announces the miqat.
- 2
Step 2
On the way
Repeat it often: when the bus moves, when you go up or down, when you meet other pilgrims, and after each prayer.
- 3
Step 3
Stop in Umrah
Stop the talbiyah when you reach the Black Stone line and begin tawaf.
- 4
Step 4
Stop in Hajj
Keep it up through Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah, and stop when you throw the first pebble at Jamrat al-Aqabah on 10 Dhul Hijjah.
Saying it the right way
- Men raise their voices: the Prophet ﷺ said Jibril told him to have his companions raise their voices with the talbiyah (Tirmidhi 829)
- Women say it softly, loud enough for themselves and those right beside them
- Say it yourself, not only after a group leader. Saying it together is fine, but each person should say every word
- If you cannot remember it all, start with “Labbaik Allahumma labbaik” and learn the rest on the way. Many pilgrims keep it on a small card
Questions
Labbaik Allahumma labbaik. Labbaik, la sharika laka, labbaik. Innal-hamda wan-ni‘mata laka wal-mulk. La sharika lak. These are the Prophet’s ﷺ words in Bukhari 1549 and Muslim 1184.
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Official guidance
This guide is general travel information. For religious rulings, please ask a qualified scholar.
