Inner Dimensions of Hajj 3

Purchase of Ihram

As for the purchase of the two seamless garments of consecration: when buying his ihram the Pilgrim should recall 

the shroud in which he will be wrapped for burial.....He should remember: 

just as he goes to meet the House of God, Great and Glorious is He, in unusual garb and attire, 

so after death he must go to meet God, Great and Glorious is He, dressed in a fashion different from that of this world.

And the Pilgrim-garb is close to the other, being unstitched like the shroud.

Putting on Ihram and Crying Labbayk

As for donning the garb of consecration and crying 'Labbayk' from the assembly point onwards:

the Pilgrim should know that this signifies a response to the summons of God, Great and Glorious is He.

Hope, therefore, to be accepted and dread being told: 'No favor or fortune for you!'

Oscillate between hope and fear; rid yourself of you power and strength, and rely on the grace and generosity of God, Great and Glorious is He.

The moment of talbiya [calling Labbayk] is the real starting point -this is the critical instant.

Sufyan ibn Uyayna said: "Ali, the son of al-Husayn, may God be pleased with them both, once went on Pilgrimage.

When he had put on his ihram and his camel was ready for him to ride, he suddenly turned pale and began to tremble.

He shivered and quaked and could not utter "Labbayk", and when they asked him what was wrong he said:

"I dread being told: 'No favor or fortune for you!'" When he did eventually cry 'Labbayk', he fainted and fell from his camel.

This kept on happening to him until he had completed his Pilgrimage.'

Imam Al-Ghazali [may Allah be pleased with him]