All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds.
Raising voice in offering Takbeer (saying Allahu Akbar) during Eid is a distinctive ritual of the Islamic Ummah (nation). Offering Takbeer, whether in congregation, or individually, at any time, or at certain times during Eids of Fitr and Adha is a desirable Sunnah that the Prophet (PBUH) and his companions (May Allah be pleased with them) used to perform on regular basis. Allah, The Almighty, Says (What means): “and (He desireth) that ye should complete the period, and that ye should magnify Allah for having guided you, and that peradventure ye may be thankful. It is more appropriate for this ritual to be offered in a harmonious manner because congregational Takbeer is stronger, higher in volume, and has a greater impact on the soul compared to individual Takbeer" [Al-Baqarah/185].
Efforts should be exerted in order for confusion not to happen because of the large number of Takbeer makers. This view is supported by what follows:
First: The Hadith narrated by Um-Attieh: “We used to be ordered to come out on the Day of E'id and even bring out the virgin girls from their houses and menstruating women so that they might stand behind the men and say Takbir along with them and invoke Allah along with them and hope for the blessings of that day and for purification from sins.” {Bukhari}.
Second: Imam Al-Bukhari (May Allah have mercy on his soul) narrated: “Omar used to make Takbeer while in his tent in Menah, and the prayer performers used to hear him and start making Takbeer , and the people of the market followed suit until Menah trembled by the great volume of their voice. Women used to make Takbeer in the mosque after Ib`ban bin Othman and Omar Bin Abdul-Aziz along with men during days of Tashreeq .”
The above Hadiths indicate that Takbeer was made in congregation and in one voice.
Third: In his book entitled [Al-Umm] Al-Imam Al-Shafie said: “ If Muslims saw the moon of Shawal, I preferred that they made Takbeer in congregation, or individually whether they were in the mosque, at home, at the market, or on the roads, and whether they were travelling, or residents i.e. in every situation and wherever they are. I also prefer that they do it loudly.”
Accordingly, we realize that congregational Takbeer is permissible, and supposing that there is no direct evidence supporting this view doesn`t mean that it is prohibited, or causes harm. No one can claim that individual Takbeer is more rewarding and more desirable to Allah, rather, it is a collective performance proven in Sunnah as well as the sayings and deeds of the righteous companions.
Therefore, denying it is impermissible, and passing it throughout the different generations of Muslims is a poof of its lawfulness.
The time of Takbeer for Eid of Fitr begins from the sunset of the last day of Ramadan (Night of Eid), or from seeing the moon of Shawal (The month after Ramadan) until the start of Eid prayer.
As for the Takbeer of Adha Eid, it starts from the morning of the day of Arafah and continues until noon time of the last day of Tashreeq. And Allah Knows Best.
