Wordings of Eid Takbeeraat and Their Authentic References
Written by: Abu al-Asqa‘ Qari Usamah bin Abd al-Salam
Reciting Takbeeraat on the days of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha is a Sunnah, as proven by the Qur’an, Hadiths, and narrations from the Companions.
Allah ﷻ says:
وَلِتُكَبِّرُوا اللَّهَ عَلَىٰ مَا هَدَاكُمْ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ
(Surah Al-Baqarah: 185)
(That you may glorify Allah for that [to] which He has guided you, and that you may be grateful.)
This verse is a clear proof that Takbeeraat on the day of Eid are legislated, as Allah has commanded us to proclaim His greatness on that day.
✔ The Prophet ﷺ’s Practice of Reciting Takbeeraat Aloud on Eid:
① Narrated by Abdullah ibn Umar رضي الله عنهما:
"أن رسول الله ﷺ كان يخرج يوم الفطر والأضحى رافعًا صوته بالتكبير.”
(The Messenger of Allah ﷺ would come out on the days of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha and raise his voice in Takbeer.)
(Al-Mu‘jam al-Kabir by al-Tabarani: 11367 – Authentic Chain)
② Reported by Nafi‘ رحمه الله:
"كان عبد الله بن عمر رضي الله عنهما يكبر يوم الفطر حتى يأتي المصلى ويكبر حتى يأتي الإمام.”
(Abdullah ibn Umar رضي الله عنهما used to recite Takbeeraat continuously on the day of Eid al-Fitr until he reached the prayer place, and he continued until the Imam arrived.)
(Sunan al-Daraqutni: 171 – Authentic)
◈ Salman al-Farsi رضي الله عنه said:
"كبروا، فإنها سنة.”
(Recite Takbeeraat, for it is Sunnah.)
(Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah: 5633)
◈ Ibn Abbas رضي الله عنهما said:
"كبروا الله في أيام العيد.”
(Glorify Allah with Takbeer on the days of Eid.)
(Al-Sunan al-Kubra by al-Bayhaqi: 6237)
◈ From Umar ibn al-Khattab and Ali رضي الله عنهما:
"اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ، وَاللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، وَلِلَّهِ الْحَمْدُ."
(Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah: 5635 – Authentic Chain)
◈ From Ibn Mas‘ud رضي الله عنه:
"اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ كَبِيرًا، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ كَبِيرًا، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ وَأَجَلُّ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ وَلِلَّهِ الْحَمْدُ."
(Al-Sunan al-Kubra by al-Bayhaqi: 6236)
❶ From Umar and Ali رضي الله عنهما:
"اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ، وَاللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، وَلِلَّهِ الْحَمْدُ."
(Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah: 5635)
❷ From Ibn Mas‘ud رضي الله عنه:
"اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ كَبِيرًا، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ كَبِيرًا، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ وَأَجَلُّ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ وَلِلَّهِ الْحَمْدُ."
(Al-Sunan al-Kubra by al-Bayhaqi: 6236)
❸ The commonly recited Takbeer in general gatherings:
"اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ، وَاللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، وَلِلَّهِ الْحَمْدُ."
◈ Eid al-Fitr:
It is recommended (mustahabb) to begin reciting Takbeeraat from the sighting of the new moon until the Eid prayer.
◈ Eid al-Adha:
It is obligatory (wājib) to recite Takbeeraat al-Tashreeq after every obligatory prayer, from Fajr on the 9th of Dhul-Hijjah (Day of Arafah) until ‘Asr on the 13th of Dhul-Hijjah, aloud.
The Takbeeraat of Eid are established through the Qur’an, authentic Hadiths, and the consensus of the Companions. We should adhere to the Sunnah by proclaiming Allah’s greatness loudly on Eid, so our celebrations may be counted as worship and Shaytan may be filled with regret.
اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، وَلِلَّهِ الْحَمْدُ!
Written by: Abu al-Asqa‘ Qari Usamah bin Abd al-Salam
✿ Introduction
Reciting Takbeeraat on the days of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha is a Sunnah, as proven by the Qur’an, Hadiths, and narrations from the Companions.
➊ Evidence from the Noble Qur’an
Allah ﷻ says:
وَلِتُكَبِّرُوا اللَّهَ عَلَىٰ مَا هَدَاكُمْ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ
(Surah Al-Baqarah: 185)
(That you may glorify Allah for that [to] which He has guided you, and that you may be grateful.)
This verse is a clear proof that Takbeeraat on the day of Eid are legislated, as Allah has commanded us to proclaim His greatness on that day.
➋ Evidence from the Noble Hadith
✔ The Prophet ﷺ’s Practice of Reciting Takbeeraat Aloud on Eid:
① Narrated by Abdullah ibn Umar رضي الله عنهما:
"أن رسول الله ﷺ كان يخرج يوم الفطر والأضحى رافعًا صوته بالتكبير.”
(The Messenger of Allah ﷺ would come out on the days of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha and raise his voice in Takbeer.)
(Al-Mu‘jam al-Kabir by al-Tabarani: 11367 – Authentic Chain)
② Reported by Nafi‘ رحمه الله:
"كان عبد الله بن عمر رضي الله عنهما يكبر يوم الفطر حتى يأتي المصلى ويكبر حتى يأتي الإمام.”
(Abdullah ibn Umar رضي الله عنهما used to recite Takbeeraat continuously on the day of Eid al-Fitr until he reached the prayer place, and he continued until the Imam arrived.)
(Sunan al-Daraqutni: 171 – Authentic)
➌ Practice of the Noble Companions
◈ Salman al-Farsi رضي الله عنه said:
"كبروا، فإنها سنة.”
(Recite Takbeeraat, for it is Sunnah.)
(Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah: 5633)
◈ Ibn Abbas رضي الله عنهما said:
"كبروا الله في أيام العيد.”
(Glorify Allah with Takbeer on the days of Eid.)
(Al-Sunan al-Kubra by al-Bayhaqi: 6237)
◈ From Umar ibn al-Khattab and Ali رضي الله عنهما:
"اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ، وَاللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، وَلِلَّهِ الْحَمْدُ."
(Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah: 5635 – Authentic Chain)
◈ From Ibn Mas‘ud رضي الله عنه:
"اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ كَبِيرًا، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ كَبِيرًا، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ وَأَجَلُّ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ وَلِلَّهِ الْحَمْدُ."
(Al-Sunan al-Kubra by al-Bayhaqi: 6236)
➍ Complete Wordings of Takbeeraat (Established Sunnah Forms)
❶ From Umar and Ali رضي الله عنهما:
"اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ، وَاللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، وَلِلَّهِ الْحَمْدُ."
(Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah: 5635)
❷ From Ibn Mas‘ud رضي الله عنه:
"اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ كَبِيرًا، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ كَبِيرًا، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ وَأَجَلُّ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ وَلِلَّهِ الْحَمْدُ."
(Al-Sunan al-Kubra by al-Bayhaqi: 6236)
❸ The commonly recited Takbeer in general gatherings:
"اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ، وَاللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، وَلِلَّهِ الْحَمْدُ."
➎ Timing for Reciting Takbeeraat
◈ Eid al-Fitr:
It is recommended (mustahabb) to begin reciting Takbeeraat from the sighting of the new moon until the Eid prayer.
◈ Eid al-Adha:
It is obligatory (wājib) to recite Takbeeraat al-Tashreeq after every obligatory prayer, from Fajr on the 9th of Dhul-Hijjah (Day of Arafah) until ‘Asr on the 13th of Dhul-Hijjah, aloud.
✿ Conclusion
The Takbeeraat of Eid are established through the Qur’an, authentic Hadiths, and the consensus of the Companions. We should adhere to the Sunnah by proclaiming Allah’s greatness loudly on Eid, so our celebrations may be counted as worship and Shaytan may be filled with regret.
اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، وَلِلَّهِ الْحَمْدُ!
