In Miqat
From: Anecdotes of the Pious Ones, # 45, V. 1

Malik bin Ans, who was a famous scholar in Madinah, went to Hajj with Imam Sadiq (as) [1]. They arrived in Miqat, and got ready to put on the Ihram, and saying the Dhikr of Talbyya (We say yes to your call our Lord). Others said this prayer in their own common ways. Malik bin Ans noted that Imam (as) was in a different state. Every time that he (as) was about to say these words, his voice would crash in his throat, and lose control of his limbs such that he would be on the verge of falling off his ride.

Malik approached the Imam (as) and said: "O son of the Prophet of Allah! You must say this Dikhr, no matter what your condition."

The Imam (as) said: "O son of Abi 'Amir! How could I have the courage to say Labbaik? Saying Labbaik means that: My Lord, I am hurrying to what you are calling me towards, and I am always ready. With what confidence should I enact this boldness against my Lord, and call myself an ever ready servant? And what shall I do if the response from Him (swt) is La Labbaik (and we don't accept of you)? [2]

[1] Malik ibn Anas son of Abi 'Amir is one of the leaders of the four Sunni schools of thought. The school of thought of Maliki stems from him. He lived around the time of Abu Haneefa. Shafi'i was a student of Malik and Ahmad bin Hanbal was Shafi'i's student.

Malik's Fiqh was considered an opponent of Abu Haneefa's Fiqh. Abu Haneefa's Fiqh relies more on Ra'i (judgement), and Qiyas (comparison). While Malik's Fiqh relies more on Hadith and the tradition. In Wafyyat ul A'ayaan (v 3, p 286) it is related by Ibn Khalkan that Malik used to cry a lot near his death. He was very worried about some of his Fatwas which were based on Ra'i, and would say: "I wish I had not decreed based on my own judgement. I would have preferred to have been lashed for each of those decrees, and I would be free from the sins."

One of the honors of Malik is his belief that allegiance to Muhammad bin 'Abdullah Mahdh who was martyred was correct, and allegiance to Bani 'Abbas, which was based on power was not right.

Malik was very outspoken about this belief, and never feared the cruelty of 'Abbasids. This caused him to be lashed by the order of Ja'far bin Sulaiman 'Abbasi. This lashing gained him more popularity. (please see Wafyyat al A'yaan, V. 3, p 285)

Malik used to visit Imam Ja'far Sadiq (as) quite frequently, and happens to be one of those who has narrated from him (as). Bihar's volume 11, page 109 reports from a number of books such as Khisal, 'Ilal ush Sharay', Suddooq, that Imam (as) was kind to Malik. He (as) would tell him that: "I like you." Malik used to be very happy whenever the Imam (as) was affectionate towards him.

Malik is reported to have said: "I used to visit Imam Sadiq (as) for a time. I would find him praying, fasting, or reciting Qur'an. No ear has heard, no eye has witnessed, and no mind has imagined better than Ja'fa ibn-e Muhammad in knowledge, piety, and worship." (The book of Al Imam al Sadiq)

It is also Malik who is reported to have said: "He was one of the best of his time, who feared Allah (swt), and knew a great deal of Hadith. He was pleasant and had an excellent character. Being in his presence was a blessing. Whenever he heard the name of the Prophet of Allah (swt), he would be awe stricken, and his state would change."

[2] Bihar al Anwar, V. 11, p. 109