Ruling on Takbīrāt of the Two Eids: Obligation or Sunnah?
Written by: Imran Ayyub Lahori
✿ Are the Takbīrāt on Eid al-Fiṭr and Eid al-Aḍḥā Obligatory or Sunnah?
There is scholarly disagreement regarding the status of the Eid Takbīrāt during the prayer.
◈ Scholarly Opinions:
❖ Some scholars consider them obligatory, such as:
- Imām Abū Ḥanīfah (رحمه الله)
- Imām Mālik (رحمه الله)
▶ According to them, if someone misses a Takbīrah, they must perform Sajdah al-Sahw (prostration of forgetfulness).
❖ The majority of scholars (Jumhūr) consider the Eid Takbīrāt to be Sunnah (recommended).
▶ According to this opinion, if a person intentionally or unintentionally omits the Takbīrāt, their prayer remains valid and no prostration of forgetfulness is required.
✔ Supporting Statements:
◉ Imām al-Shawkānī (رحمه الله):
“These Takbīrāt are not obligatory because no evidence proves their obligation.”
◉ Ṣiddīq Ḥasan Khān (رحمه الله):
“If someone omits the Takbīrāt of Eid — whether deliberately or forgetfully — the prayer is not invalidated.”
📚 [Al-Rawḍah al-Nadiyyah: 1/361]
◉ Ibn Qudāmah (رحمه الله):
“I am not aware of any disagreement on this matter (i.e., that the Takbīrāt are Sunnah).”
📚 [Al-Mughnī: 3/275]
📌 Conclusion:
➤ The stronger and more accepted opinion is that the Takbīrāt of the Eid prayers are Sunnah, not Farḍ.
➤ Omitting them does not invalidate the prayer, nor does it necessitate Sajdah al-Sahw, according to the majority of scholars.
