Dua Before Entering Ihram
3 Things to Know About the Talbiyah
Entering the sacred state of ihram marks the beginning of the great journey of Hajj or Umrah, as the pilgrim sheds worldly garments and intentions and devotes themselves wholly to Allah. Upon entering ihram, the pilgrim begins reciting the beautiful Talbiyah, answering the call of Allah and proclaiming His oneness and majesty. The dua before entering ihram centres on this Talbiyah, the proclamation that fills the journey of pilgrimage with the remembrance and praise of Allah from its very start.
لَبَّيْكَ اللَّهُمَّ لَبَّيْكَ، لَبَّيْكَ لَا شَرِيكَ لَكَ لَبَّيْكَ، إِنَّ الْحَمْدَ وَالنِّعْمَةَ لَكَ وَالْمُلْكَ، لَا شَرِيكَ لَكَ
Labbayka-llāhumma labbayk, labbayka lā sharīka laka labbayk, innal-hamda wan-ni‘mata laka wal-mulk, lā sharīka lak.
“Here I am, O Allah, here I am. Here I am, You have no partner, here I am. Indeed all praise, grace and sovereignty belong to You; You have no partner.”
The Talbiyah is the heart cry of the pilgrim, repeated aloud throughout the journey, declaring that the pilgrim has answered the call of Allah and that all praise, grace and sovereignty belong to Him alone. This guide explains the dua before entering ihram and three things to know about the Talbiyah, so that the pilgrim may begin Hajj or Umrah by answering the call of Allah, entering the sacred state with a heart devoted to Him.
Answering the Call of Allah
Upon entering ihram, the pilgrim begins to recite the Talbiyah, the words quoted above: here I am, O Allah, here I am; here I am, You have no partner, here I am; indeed all praise, grace and sovereignty belong to You; You have no partner. The word labbayk means here I am at Your service, answering the call of Allah to His sacred house. The Prophet (pbuh) recited this Talbiyah upon entering ihram, and the pilgrims have echoed it ever since.
The Talbiyah is rich with meaning. The pilgrim declares that they have answered the call of Allah, affirms that He has no partner, and proclaims that all praise, all blessing and all sovereignty belong to Him alone. With each repetition, the pilgrim renews their devotion and humility, filling the journey with the remembrance of Allah. The dua before entering ihram is this beautiful proclamation, beginning the pilgrimage with the heart turned wholly to Allah.
Three Things to Know About the Talbiyah
The Talbiyah is the proclamation of the pilgrim throughout the journey. These three things help the pilgrim understand entering ihram.
- Make the intention for Hajj or Umrah, entering the sacred state of ihram with a sincere heart.
- Recite the Talbiyah aloud, answering the call of Allah and proclaiming His oneness and majesty.
- Repeat it often throughout the journey, renewing devotion until the rites of pilgrimage begin.
إِنَّ الْحَمْدَ وَالنِّعْمَةَ لَكَ وَالْمُلْكَ لَا شَرِيكَ لَكَ
Innal-hamda wan-ni‘mata laka wal-mulka la sharika lak
All praise and grace belong to You You have no partner
Beginning the Journey to Allah
The dua before entering ihram is the beautiful Talbiyah, answering the call of Allah and beginning the pilgrimage with a heart devoted to Him. By making the intention for Hajj or Umrah, reciting the Talbiyah aloud, and repeating it often throughout the journey, the pilgrim enters the sacred state in the best way. The Prophet (pbuh) recited this proclamation upon entering ihram, declaring that all praise, grace and sovereignty belong to Allah alone, and the pilgrims have answered His call ever since.
This supplication pairs naturally with the dua for leaving sins as the pilgrim sheds worldly attachments, and the dua for accepted worship. Together they help the pilgrim begin the journey to Allah with a pure and devoted heart.
Upon entering ihram, the pilgrim answers the call of Allah with the beautiful Talbiyah, here I am O Allah, here I am. Learn the duas of worship with us on YouTube, where the Talbiyah is recited aloud, on X for a reminder of the journey of pilgrimage, and on Pinterest where readers share their journey to the house of Allah.
Frequently Asked Questions
The dua before entering ihram is the Talbiyah: Labbayka Allahumma labbayk, here I am O Allah here I am; here I am, You have no partner, here I am; indeed all praise, grace and sovereignty belong to You; You have no partner.
The Talbiyah is the proclamation of the pilgrim upon entering ihram, answering the call of Allah to His sacred house. The word labbayk means here I am at Your service, and it is repeated aloud throughout the journey.
It is recited upon entering the state of ihram for Hajj or Umrah, after making the intention, and is repeated often throughout the journey until the rites of pilgrimage begin.
It declares that the pilgrim has answered the call of Allah, affirms that He has no partner, and proclaims that all praise, blessing and sovereignty belong to Him alone. It fills the journey with the remembrance of Allah.
Ihram is the sacred state the pilgrim enters to perform Hajj or Umrah, devoting themselves wholly to Allah. The pilgrim makes the intention, wears the simple garments, and begins reciting the Talbiyah.
Yes, it is recommended for men to raise their voices with the Talbiyah, while women recite it softly. The Prophet (pbuh) and his companions raised their voices with the Talbiyah throughout the journey.