The Takbir and Talbiyah

[Lesson 124 continued, (Book of the Two Eids - كتاب العيدين), al Tajrid al Sarih]

Chapter 8: Chapter of Takbir during the days of Mina and when setting out for Arafat

Narrated Muhammad bin Abi Bakr Al-Thaqafi:
While we were going from Mina to 'Arafat, I asked Anas bin Malik (رضى الله عنه), about Talbiyah, "How did you use to say Talbiyah in the company of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم)?" Anas said: "People used to say Talbiyah and their saying was not objected to and they used to say Takbir and that was not objected to either.” [Hadeeth 535, al Tajrid al Sarih]

Ibn Bayhaqi (رحمة الله عليه) mentions a narration in his sunan about reciting takbir excessively during the days of Mina. The Takbir should be recited by everyone not just the Hujjaj.

Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar, la illaha ila Allah, wa Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar, wa lillah hilhamd

God is Greatest, God is Greatest, There is no deity but [the One] God, God is Greatest, God is Greatest and to Him goes all praise

We learn from Hadeeth 535 that Takbir should be recited as much as possible during the days of Mina and Hajj. Shaykh mentioned that once a person puts on the ihram, it is consecrated (and the person actually enters the state of ihram) by reciting the Talbiyah.

Labbaika Allahomma Labbaik. Labbaik La Shareeka Laka Labbaik. Innal-Hamdah, Wan-Nematah, Laka wal Mulk, La Shareeka Laka

Here I am at Thy service O Lord, here I am. Here I am at Thy service and Thou hast no partners. Thine alone is All Praise and All Bounty, and Thine alone is The Sovereignty. Thou hast no partners.

The Hujjaj are meant to repeat this as much as possible. However, one is also encouraged to say Takbir.

From this hadeeth we establish that Anas ibn Malik (رضى الله عنه) said that at the time of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) those that wanted to say Takbir would do so, and those that wanted to say the Talbiyah would do so – neither were disapproved of.

There is a point when those in ihram have to stop saying the Talbiyah – according to the majority of scholars, the Hujjaj stop on the 10th day of Dhul Hijjah (Eid day) when they cast their stones at jamarat. According to Imam Malik (رحمة الله عليه), the Hujjaj should stop saying the Talbiyah at midday on the Day of Eid.

There is another Sunnah practice to say the Takbir after Fardh prayers. There are complex laws which govern this practice. A summary is below:
- According to Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal (رحمة الله عليه), this practice is Sunnah after congregational prayers.
- According to Imam Abu Hanifah (رحمة الله عليه) the practice is wajib for all those that have performed prayers in congregation and one is sinful if he doesn’t say the Takbir after these congregational Fardh prayers.
- For the Hanafi and Hanbali schools of thought, this practice of saying the Takbir is for a total of 23 prayers, from Fajr on the 9th to Asr on the 13th.
- According to Imam Malik (رحمة الله عليه), it is a recommended practice and one is allowed to say the Takbir after individual prayers too, and the practice is from Dhuhr salah on Eid (10th) till Asr on the 13th of Dhul Hijjah.
- According to Imam Shafi (رحمة الله عليه), this practice is allowed after nafil, sunnah, jinaazah prayers, individual prayers as well as congregational and the practice is for 24 prayers.

There are different ways of saying Takbir. Also, according to all ulema except Imam Abu Hanifah (رحمة الله عليه) the Takbir should be recited loudly on the way to the musalla etc for Eid salah. However, Imam Abu Hanifah (رحمة الله عليه) says it is preferred to recite it silently but this is just a preference and for those following the Hanafi school of thought, it is still permissible to say the Taqbir loudly. In Surah Baqarah, after mentioning the fast Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) says:

شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِيَ أُنزِلَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنُ هُدًى لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَاتٍ مِّنَ الْهُدَى وَالْفُرْقَانِ فَمَن شَهِدَ مِنكُمُ الشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ وَمَن كَانَ مَرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَى سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ يُرِيدُ اللّهُ بِكُمُ الْيُسْرَ وَلاَ يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ الْعُسْرَ وَلِتُكْمِلُواْ الْعِدَّةَ وَلِتُكَبِّرُواْ اللّهَ عَلَى مَا هَدَاكُمْ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ

Ramadhan is the (month) in which was sent down the Qur'an, as a guide to mankind, also clear (Signs) for guidance and judgment (Between right and wrong). So every one of you who is present (at his home) during that month should spend it in fasting, but if any one is ill, or on a journey, the prescribed period (Should be made up) by days later. Allah intends every facility for you; He does not want to put to difficulties. (He wants you) to complete the prescribed period, and to glorify Him in that He has guided you; and perchance ye shall be grateful [2:185]

- in this verse, where Allah says “and to glorify him”, the ulema say that this reference is to the Takbir, both for Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha.

The reason for repeating the Takbir is because the mushrikeen would sacrifice animals in the names of their false gods on days of festivities – by repeatedly saying the Taqbir it is a reminder that on the day of Eid animals are only sacrificed in the name of Allah (سبحانه وتعالى).

Imam Abu Hanifah (رحمة الله عليه) says that the Takbir should only be recited on Eid-ul-Adha. The other Hanafi scholars say it can be recited on both Eids.

Shaykh mentioned that those following the Shafi school of thought have some very long and beautiful Takbirs (see below) – it is permissible to say these according to the Hanafi school of thought.

للّهُ أكبر اللّهُ أكبر

Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar

Allah is Great, Allah is Great

اللّهُ أكبر

Allahu Akbar

Allah is Great

لا إلَهَ الا اللّه

La illaha il Allah

there is no God, but Allah

اللّهُ أكبر اللّهُ اكبر

Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar

Allah is Great, Allah is Great

و لِلّه الحمدَ

walilahil Hamd

to Him belongs all Praise

اللّهُ أكبرُ كَبيِرَا

Allahu Akbaru Kabeera

Allah is the Greatest

وَالحَمدُ لِلّهِ كَثِيرا

wal-Hamdulilahi katheera

And all Praise is due to Him

وَ سُبحَان اللّهِ

wa Subhan allahi

And Glory to Allah

بُكرَةً وَأصْيِلا

bukratan wa aseila

evening and in the morning

لا إلَهَ الا اللّه

La illaha il Allah

there is no God, but Allah the Unique

صَدَقَ وَعدَه

sadaqa wa'dah

He has fulfilled His Promise

وَنَصَرَ عبده

wa nasara abda

and made Victorious His servant

وأعزَ جُنَده

wa a'azza jundahu

and made Mighty His soldiers

وَهزم الأحْزَابَ وحْدَه

wa hazamal-ahzaaba wahdah

and defeated the confederates

لا إلَهَ الا اللّه

La illaha il Allah

there is no God, But Allah

وَلا نَعبُد الا أياه

wa laa na'budu illa iyyah

He alone we worship

مُخلِصِّينَ لَهُ الدّيِنَ

mukhlessena lahud-deena

with sincere and exclusive devotion

وَلوْ كَرِهَ الكَافِروُن

walaw karehal-Kafeeroon

even though the idolaters hate it

اللّهمَ صَلِّ على سيْدنَا مُحَمد

Allahumma salli ala sayyedna Muhammad

O Allah, have Mercy on our Prophet Muhammad

وَعَلى آلِ سيْدنَا مُحَمد

wa ala aalie sayyedna Muhammad

and on the family of our Prophet Muhammad

وَعَلى اصْحَابِ سيْدنَا مُحَمد

wa ala as-haabie sayyedna Muhammad

and on the companions of our Prophet Muhammad

وَعَلى أنصَارِ سيْدنَا مُحَمد

wa ala ansari sayyedna Muhammad

and on the helpers of our Prophet Muhammad

وَعَلى أزوَاجِ سيْدنَا مُحَمد

wa ala azwajie sayyedna Muhammad

and on the wives of our Prophet Muhammad

وَعَلى ذُرِّيَةِ سيْدنَا مُحَمد

wa ala dhurreyatie sayyedna Muhammad

and on the progeny of our Prophet Muhammad

وَ سَلّم تَسْلِيماَ كَثّيرا

wa sallim tasleeman katheera

and Bestow upon them much peace

- The reciting of the Takbirs begins when Eid is announced.