631 – Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: “Among us there were those who would start the talbiyah, and no one objected to him; and among us there were those who would pronounce the takbir, and no one objected to him.” Agreed upon. (1)
Points derived from the ḥadith
1 – The full narration is found in Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: Muḥammad ibn Abī Bakr asked Anas ibn Mālik while they were on their way from Minā to ‘Arafah, “How did you act on a day like this when you were with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ?” He replied, “Among us the one who proclaimed the talbiyah would do so and no one objected, and among us the one who pronounced the takbir would do so and no one objected.” This ḥadith, therefore, refutes the claim that the talbiyah must be stopped at dawn on the Day of ‘Arafah.
2 – Al-ihlāl (raising the voice with the talbiyah) shows the permissibility of replacing the talbiyah with the takbir; at times one may do this and at other times that. Both practices are sunnah that the Prophet ﷺ approved for his Companions.
3 – By implication, the ḥadith indicates that the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) would denounce anyone who deviated from the straight path in word or deed, and that they would not overlook an error out of flattery or mere politeness.