Sermon Of
Imam A. M. Khattab
Jan.11, 1932---Sept.15, 2001
Imam and Director
Islamic Center of Greater Toledo, Ohio
1982-1998

The Meaning of Eid Takbīr
Eid-ul-Adha 1998
[Takbīr means to glorify God]

So the day after tomorrow will be Eid [April 7, 1998]. Already telephone calls have started coming in asking about Eid and to everyone who asks when will Eid be? I say: Did you read the Monitor in the last twelve months? The date of Eid is fixed! It is based upon calculation. So our Eid will be Tuesday, insh’allah, and the Eid prayer will start at ten o’clock as usual.

Normally on Eid day we have takbīr here in the mosque, but the takbīr is not limited to the mosque only. You can make takbīr in your house, in the street, and while you are driving your car from the house to the mosque. Rather than listening to Michael Jackson on your radio recite some takbīr. Something we aught to know is how many days we have to make takbīr. This differs between Eid-ul-Fitr (Al Eid-us-Sagheer, or the small Eid) and Eid-al-Adha (Eid-ul-Kabīr, or the big Eid). The small Eid is the Eid after Ramadan and the big Eid is the day the animals are sacrificed in the month of zul-Hijja at the completion of Al-Hajj.

In Eid-ul-Fitr we have takbīr for thirteen prayers. We start takbīr on the day before Eid which is known as Yawm-ul Waqfah, at the time of al-’Asr. Then we have takbīr for all five prayers of the day of the Eid and the second day of the Eid. That adds up to five prayers plus five prayers is ten and three on the day of waqfah, for a total of thirteen prayers.

The big Eid has more takbīr and the number of prayers at which times the takbīr is recited are twenty three. Takbīr starts from the Fajr of the day before Eid which is Yawm-ul Waqfah, then you add to it Yam-ul-Eid (the day of Eid) and two days after Eid, that equals four days multiplied by five resulting in 20. Then on the third day after Eid takbir is recited after the morning, the noon, and ’Asr prayers. This adds up to 23 salah after which we read takbīr instead of the dua‘ which is done normally at other times.

As understood by most of us here recitation of takbir means ‘O, we go for prayers on Eid day at 9 o'clock in the morning to start the takbīr then we pray Eid and that's it’. It is not. Eid-al-Adha is celebrated when the Hajj is finished. The Hajj is completed on the day of ‘Arafāt – when the pilgrims stand on the Mount of ‘Arafāt till sunset and this is the last rite of the Pilgrimage. When this is completed the Hajj is complete. As a result, the day after ‘Arafāt is Eid because the pilgrims have performed the obligation of Al-Hajj which is required once in a lifetime by those who are able to do it. The Ayyām-ut-tashreeq are the three days after Eid-ul-Adha during which the pilgrims throw stones at the three stone pillars symbolizing Iblīs (ramy-al-jamaraat). These three days are the days which finalize the rituals of Hajj and these are the days during which we say takbīr after Eid. The Eid extends over these three days, and it is permissible, if you didn't pray the Eid prayer on Eid day to pray it on the second day or the third day. These are the days during which we recite takbīr and the pilgrims are also reciting takbīr while at the same time completing their rituals of Hajj by throwing the stones. During these three days after Eid-al-Adha fasting is prohibited.

Takbīr is recited after each prayer.

The word Eid is sometimes translated into English as “feast” or “festival day”. Festival day in fact does not give the true meaning of the word Eid as understood in Arabic because you can have a festival day for the Islamic Center and it even includes pony riding. But the word Eid has a special meaning: it is a day to be celebrated after performing an obligation; Eid means we are pleased and we celebrate because we have performed a duty which is incumbent upon us by the decree of Allah. Thus we celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr because we performed the obligation of fasting and we celebrate Eid-ul-Adha because we performed the obligation of Hajj. How did this takbīr come into existence? The Qur’an talks about it. Imam quotes 2:185 and 22:36 and 37.

2:185: It was the month of Ramadan in which the Quran was first bestowed from on high as a guidance unto man and a self-evident proof of that guidance, and as the standard by which to discern the true from the false. Hence, whoever of you lives to see this month shall fast throughout it; but he that is ill, or on a journey, shall fast instead for the same number of other days. God wills that you shall have ease, and does not will you to suffer hardship; but He desires that you complete the number of days required, and that you extol God (li-tukabbir-ul Allah) for His having guided you aright, and that you render your thanks unto Him [Asad].

22: 36,37: And as for the sacrifice of cattle, We have ordained it for you as one of the symbols set up by God, in which there is much good for you. Hence, extol the name of God over them when they are lined up for sacrifice; and after they have fallen lifeless to the ground, eat of their flesh, and feed the poor who is contented with his lot and does not beg, as well as him who is forced to beg. It is to this end that We have made them subservient to your needs, so that you might have cause to be grateful. But bear in mind: never does their flesh reach God, and neither their blood: it is only your God-consciousness (taqwa) that reaches Him. It is to this end that We have made them subservient to your needs, so that you might glorify God (li-tukabbir-ul Allah) for all the guidance with which He has graced you [Asad].

posted 11/22/2004