When to Begin Reciting Takbirāt in Dhul-Hijjah? Complete Guidance
Reference: Ahkam wa Masail, Hajj wa Umrah ke Masail, Vol. 1, Page 290
❖ Question:
From which day in Dhul-Ḥijjah should a person begin reciting Takbirāt?
❖ Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd!
As soon as the crescent of Dhul-Ḥijjah is sighted, i.e., from the 1st of Dhul-Ḥijjah, a believer should increase in dhikr (remembrance of Allah), Takbirāt, and other righteous deeds.
In this regard, there is a clear ḥadīth in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, where the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
«مَا الْعَمَلُ فِیْ اَيَّامٍ أَفْضَلُ مِنْهَا فِیْ هٰذِهِ قَالُوْا : وَلاَ الْجِهَادُ ؟ قَالَ: وَلاَ الْجِهَادُ اِلاَّ رَجُلٌ خَرَجَ يُخَاطِرُ بِنَفْسِهِ وَمَالِه فَلَمْ يَرْجِعْ بِشَيْئٍ»
(Bukhārī, Kitāb al-ʿĪdayn, Bāb Faḍl al-ʿAmal fī Ayyām at-Tashrīq)
Meaning:
“Deeds performed during these ten days (of Dhul-Ḥijjah) are more beloved to Allah than deeds performed on other days.”
The companions asked: “Not even Jihād?”
He ﷺ replied: “Not even Jihād, except for a man who goes out with his life and wealth, and returns with nothing.”
❖ Conclusion
This ḥadīth makes it clear that righteous deeds, dhikr, and Takbirāt should be started from the 1st of Dhul-Ḥijjah so that the believer can fully benefit from these blessed days.
Hādhā mā ʿindī, wallāhu aʿlam biṣ-ṣawāb.
