The Ruling on Talbiyah, Its Meaning, and Its Beginning and End

Question:
He says: Honorable Shaykh, this is a questioner from Egypt residing in Riyadh. What is the ruling on talbiyah? When does it begin? When does its time end? And what is its meaning?

Answer:
Talbiyah is the sign of the one in ihram. It begins when one makes the intention for ihram, and it ends in 'Umrah when one starts the tawaf, and in Hajj when one starts the ramy al-jamarat of the Jamarat al-Aqabah. Its meaning is the response: "Labbaik Allahumma labbaik," meaning: I respond to You for what You called me to, through the tongue of Your intimate friend, in His saying: "And proclaim to the people the Hajj." It is also said its meaning is staying, from the word "alaba" meaning to stay in a place, i.e., I am staying in obedience to You, staying after staying. Yes.