ihram, for the talbiyah may be recited by both the pilgrim and others, and wearing the izar and rida may be done by both the person in ihram and others.

The evidence that intention is a condition is the saying of the Prophet—may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him: “Actions are only by intentions, and every person shall have only what he intended” (1). The talbiyah may also be recited outside the context of Hajj. When the Messenger—may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him—saw something from the worldly life that pleased him, he would say: “At Your service, O Allah; indeed, true life is the life of the Hereafter” (2). Thus, when you see worldly things that please you—such as palaces, cars, sons, wives, or anything else—say: “At Your service, O Allah; indeed, true life is the life of the Hereafter.” Consider how a person restrains himself by saying, “At Your service,” in response to Allah, the Most High, so that his soul does not become carried away by this world. He then says, “Indeed, true life is the life of the Hereafter,” meaning: this life before me is nothing of real consequence.

Question: Must he intend a specific rite—Umrah, Hajj, or qiran?

Answer: He may enter ihram with an unrestricted intention, intending the rite in general. He may also enter ihram for whatever rite so-and-so has entered ihram. This sometimes occurs when a person is ignorant and does not know for which rite to enter ihram, so he says, “At Your service for whatever so-and-so has declared in his talbiyah.” In that case, he must ask that person before performing tawaf, so that he may specify his intention before tawaf.