Eid ul Adha is one of the Islamic community’s annual festivals. It is significant in Islamic history and represents Ibrahim AS’ submission to Allah SWT when commanded to offer his son Ismail AS as a sacrifice. However, the days leading to the festival are also extremely significant and blessed.
Just like Takbir is recited during Hajj, it is also a sunnah of the Holy Prophet SAW to recite Takbir during other days of Zulhijjah. This blog will discuss the blessed month of Zulhijjah, Takbir e Tashreeq (takbir for Eid al Adha), its meaning, and the benefits of reciting the Takbir.
Reciting The Takbir
One can recite three different types of Takbir during the appointed days, as the hadiths do not provide a specific text.
Takbir 01
Transliteration
Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar, La ilaha illallah, Wallahu akbar, Allahu akbar wa lillahil hamd
Translation
“Allah is the greatest, Allah is the greatest, there is no god but Allah. And Allah is the greatest, Allah is the greatest and to Allah belongs all praise.”
Takbir 02
Transliteration
Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar, la ilaha ill-Allah, Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar, wa lillahi’l-hamd
Translation
“Allah is Most Great, Allah is Most Great, Allah is Most Great, there is no god but Allah, Allah is Most Great, Allah is Most Great, Allah is Most Great, and to Allah be praise.”
Takbir 03
Transliteration
Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar, la ilaha ill-Allah, Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar, wa lillahi’l-hamd
Translation
“Allah is Most Great, Allah is Most Great; Allah is Most Great, there is no god but Allah, Allah is Most Great, Allah is Most Great; and to Allah be praise.”
Takbir 04
Transliteration
Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, La illaha il Allah, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Walilahil Hamd, Allahu akbar kabira, Walhamdulillahi kathira, Wa subhan allahi, Bukratan wa asila, La illaha il Allah, Sadaqa wa’dah, Wa nasara abda, Wa a’azza jundahu, Wa hazamal-ahzaaba wahdah, La illaha il Allah, Wa laa na’budu illa iyyah, Mukhlessena lahud-deena, Walau karihal-Kafirun, Allahumma salli ala Sayyidina Muhammad, Wa ala aali Sayyidina Muhammad, Wa ala as-haabie Sayyidina Muhammad, Wa ala ansari Sayyidina Muhammad, Wa ala azwajie Sayyidina Muhammad, Wa ala dhurreyatie Sayyidina Muhammad, Wa sallim tasleeman katheera.
Translation
Allah is Great, Allah is Great, Allah is Great, there is no God, but Allah, Allah is Great, Allah is Great, to Him belongs all Praise, Allah is the Greatest, And all Praise is due to Him, And Glory to Allah, eventide and in the morning, there is no God, but Allah the Unique, He has fulfilled His Promise, and made Victorious His servant, and made Mighty His soldiers, and defeated the confederates, there is no God, But Allah, He alone we worship, with sincere and exclusive devotion, even though the idolaters hate it, O Allah, have Mercy on our Prophet Muhammad, and on the family of our Prophet Muhammad, and on the companions of our Prophet Muhammad, and on the helpers of our Prophet Muhammad, and on the wives of our Prophet Muhammad, and on the progeny of our Prophet Muhammad, and Bestow upon them much peace.
Types of Takbir
Restricted Takbir: This type of Takbir is not restricted to a specific time. Hence, it can be recited throughout the day, after prayers, before prayers, in the morning, and in the evening.
Unrestricted Takbir: This type of Takbir is limited to recitation after prayer.
When To Start Reciting Takbir
One should start reciting the Takbir after every word salah, from the fajr prayer of the 9th Zulhajja (the day of Arafat) till after the asr prayer on the 13th Zulhajjah (the third and final day of Eid ul Adha), including the Eid prayer. According to the Hanafi Fiqh, reciting the Takbir is wajib (obligatory) for both males and females, which means it will be sinful if somebody doesn’t recite it.
Conditions Of The Takbir
- The males should recite the Takbir out loud, while the women should recite it softly.
- It doesn’t matter if one is praying alone or in a congregation; Takbir is wajib in both cases.
- If one forgets to recite the Takbir but is still sitting on the prayer mat and hasn’t spoken to anyone yet, he should recite the Takbir. But if he engages in talking, then the Takbir will fall off.
Reciting Takbir One or Three Times
There is a misconception that reciting the Takbir three times after every fard salah is compulsory. This is not true, and it is a bidah (innovation). Reciting the Takbir only once after every fard salah is fine and permissible. But it is also okay to recite the Takbir three times after every salah without making it compulsory.