The first utterance which is obligatory for the pilgrims [ḥujjāj] to the House of God is the recital of labbayk the recital of which signals the commencement of their Ḥajj rituals and this state also makes a series of things forbidden for them.

Allāhu akbar [Allah is greater]

The first utterance which is obligatory for the pilgrims [ḥujjāj] to the House of God is the recital of labbayk[1] the recital of which signals the commencement of their Ḥajj rituals and this state also makes a series of things forbidden for them.

In the same token, prayer commences with the recital of “Allāhu akbar” “اَكْبَر اَللهُ” [Allah is greater] and this makes such things as eating, drinking and talking, forbidden [ḥarām] for the person praying. Thus, the first takbīr (utterance of Allāhu akbar) in prayer is called Takbīrah al-Iḥrām.

Along the way to Mecca, the pilgrims repeat the recital of labbayk whenever they reach any upward and downward slope. This repetition is recommended or optional [mustaḥabb]. In every bending and standing upright, standing and sitting, it is mustaḥabb for the one praying to repeat the recital of Allāhu akbar.

“Allāhu akbar” is the first obligatory utterance in the morning.

It is the first phrase in the form of adhān and iqāmah that a Muslim infant hears at the time of birth, and it is also the last phrase that is recited for the dead (in the prayer of the dead [ṣalāh al-mayyit]) before he is buried.

It is the only recital which is obligatory [wājib] in prayer as well as an essential pillar [rukn] of prayer.

It is the first sentence of the Muslim hymn, i.e. adhān.

It is the much repeated recital at the commencement of prayer, during the prayer and afterward, such that throughout the day the Muslim repeats it 360 times during the five daily obligatory prayers (not including the mustaḥabb prayers) as shown below:

1. For each of the five daily prayers, the adhān is recited and in every adhān, “Allāhu akbar” is repeated six times (30 times in all).

2. For each of the five daily prayers, the iqāmah is recited and in every iqāmah, “Allāhu akbar” is repeated four times (20 times in all).

3. Before the Takbīrah al-Iḥrām in each of the five daily prayers, there are six mustaḥabb takbīr and the seventh takbīr constitutes that obligatory Takbīrah al-Iḥrām (30 times in all).

4. The Takbīrah al-Iḥrām at the beginning of prayers is repeated five times daily.

5. There is one takbīr prior to every rukū‘ [bowing down] in the 17 rak‘ahs [cycles] of the five daily prayers (17 times in all).

6. In each of the 17 rak‘ahs of prayers we have two sujūds [prostrations] for each of which it is mustaḥabb to recite takbīr—before and after the sujūd (68 times in all).

7. Every prayer has a qunūt prior to which there is a takbīr (5 times in all).

8. At the end of each of the five daily prayers, there are three takbīrs (15 times in all).

9. After every prayer, we recite takbīr 34 times as part of the Tasbīḥāt Hadrat Fātimah az-Zahrā (‘a) (170 times in all).

Yet, what a pity that throughout our lives, we have not recited “Allāhu akbar” with attention; for, if every day a person would recite “Allah is greater” with faith and perfect attention more than 360 times, he will no longer be afraid of any power, superpower or conspiracy.

Takbīr in other prayers

In the ‘Īd al-Fiṭr[2] and ‘Īd al-Qurbān[3] prayers, not only in the prayers but also before and after the prayers, takbīr constitutes all the chants.

In the Ṣalāh al-Āyāt [Prayer for Signs],[4] we have five rukū‘ and there is takbīr for each rukū‘.

In the Ṣalāh al-Mayyit [Prayer for the Dead] also, five takbīrs essentially constitute a pillar of the prayer.

How we should recite the takbīr in prayer

Islam has explained the etiquette for every action. In the recital of “Allāhu akbar” some rules must also be observed such as the following:

1. During the recital of takbīr in prayer, we should raise both our hands parallel to our ears in such a manner that once both hands become parallel to the ears, the takbīr has already been recited.

Imām ar-Ridā (‘a) said: “The movement of the hands during the recital of takbīr is effective in focusing the attention and having complete devotion and sincerity in supplication to God.”[5]

2. The fingers of the hands during takbīr should be stretched together upward.

3. The palms of the hands must be facing the qiblah.

The traditions have described the raising of the hands during takbīr as the adornment of prayer.[6]