Warning About a Very Common Mistake in Eid Takbeers

Introduction to Eid Takbeers

Peace be upon you and the mercy of God, may God bless you with goodness, dear guests, and may every year find you in good health. May God accept from us and from you.

I would like to point out a very common mistake that occurs in almost every mosque and during every Eid; in fact, it happens during every Eid. This mistake is in the "takbeers." We always hear the worshippers say, "Allahu Akbar" or "Allah Akbar," and so on.

Common Mistakes in the Word "Akbar"

There are two mistakes that occur in the word "Akbar":

1. The first mistake: Lengthening the hamza of "Akbar" so it becomes "Allahu Akbar."
2. The second mistake: Placing an alif after the ba, making it "Akbar."

These two mistakes, dear guests, corrupt the meaning. Therefore, I will mention to you the summary of the words of many scholars such as Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani, Ibn Hajar al-Haytami, al-Nawawi, Ibn Muflih, and many others. They have warned against these mistakes in the prayer, because the speech was more about the prayer. They said that these mistakes invalidate the prayer.

Why Do These Mistakes Invalidate the Prayer?

Many scholars have said that these mistakes invalidate the prayer. The reason is:

• When you say "Allahu Akbar" (with the lengthening of the hamza): You make it a question, as if you are asking, "Is Allah the Greatest?" Lengthening the hamza turns the declarative sentence into a question. Therefore, Ibn Muflih said, "This mistake does not establish the prayer," meaning it invalidates it because it corrupts the meaning.
• Warning about the sacred name: The scholars also warned about placing a question mark at the beginning of the sacred name. Some people say in prayer, "Allahu Akbar," as if they are combining two hamzas into one lengthened hamza, making the meaning a question as well.

Corruption of Meaning in Eid Takbeers

Since the meaning is corrupted in this way, we should not fall into these mistakes in the Eid takbeers. It is not correct to say "Allahu Akbar" or "Allah Akbar."

If you want to lengthen your voice, lengthen the sacred name; say, "Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar," but do not lengthen the hamza of "Akbar" or place an alif after the ba.

Incorrect Linguistic Meanings

1. Lengthening the hamza (Allahu Akbar): Makes the word interrogative, as if we are asking if Allah is the Greatest.
2. Placing an alif after the ba (Akbar): Makes the word mean the drums that are from one side (plural of "kabir"), which is a meaning that does not befit Allah, the Exalted.

Conclusion and Warning

I ask you, my brothers, to pay attention to this matter, because this mistake is repeated every Eid. This note may have come a little late, but I feel distressed every Eid and every prayer when this mistake is repeated.

I hope you will be kind enough to share this clip and warn others, so that, God willing, we may see this habit diminish and return to the correct form of takbeer.

Once again, I say: May God accept from us and from you, and bless you. Peace be upon you and the mercy of God.