Talbiya
Definition
The talbiya is the declaration that the pilgrim repeats throughout the Hajj: 'Labbayk Allahumma labbayk — Here I am, O Allah, here I am!' It is simultaneously a response to Abraham's ancient call, an assertion of presence and availability before Allah, and a declaration of intent. Al-Ghazali reflects on its meaning: the pilgrim who says 'here I am' is claiming to have come fully — body, heart, wealth, time — without reservation. The question that the inner Hajj poses is whether the pilgrim who says 'labbayk' with the tongue is equally saying it with the heart and the life.
As understood in the classical tradition of Imam al-Ghazali and the scholars of his school.
How the scholars use Talbiya.
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"passed by the valley of Azraq and asked, What is this valley? They replied, The valley of Azraq. He said, It is as if I am looking at Moses descending from the hill, raising his voice to Allah with Talbiya. Then he came upon Thaniya Harsha and asked, What is this hill? They replied, This is Thaniya Harsha. He said, It is as if I am looking at Jonah, son of Mattah, on a red camel, wearing a woolen cloak, and the reins of his camel are fiber, meaning jute, and he is reciting the Talbiya."
— Ibn Kathir, The Story of Musa
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"but him sincerely devoted to him even if the disbelievers dislike it then descend and recite the talbiya supplicating a second and third time walk until there is a distance of six cubits between you and the green marker by the mosque then hasten your pace until reaching the two green markers then slow down until reaching al marwa ascend it and do as you did on al safa descend and walk where you walked and hasten where you hastened beginning at al safa and ending at al marwa completing seven circuits it is recommended to remain in a state of purity during the circumambulation of the house once completed shave or trim your hair and if performing tamatu and not"
— Shaykh Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani, Al-Ghunya li-Ṭālibī Ṭarīq al-Ḥaqq — Volume One
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"each pebble raising your hand until the whiteness of your armpits is visible as narrated about the prophet muhammad peace be upon him who did the same cease the talbiya with the first pebble thrown and this should be done after sunrise and before noon and on the following days of tashriq afternoon after stoning sacrifice an animal if available and shave the entire head or trim the hair if a woman she should trim her hair by the length of a fingertip then proceed to mecca perform a full ablution and wudu and circumambulate the kaba for the visitation towaf intending it with your heart pray two rakahs behind the maqam ibrahim once finished you may perform the"
— Shaykh Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani, Al-Ghunya li-Ṭālibī Ṭarīq al-Ḥaqq — Volume One
Appears in
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