By Shaykh Abdul Qayum
6 June 2025

﷽

By the mercy of Allah, we’re about to enter the Ayyām at-Tashrīq, the days following Eid al-Adhā. These days are part of the season of Hajj, extending the blessings of Eid beyond just one day. These are the 11th, 12th, and 13th of Dhul Hijjah, three days in which fasting is forbidden.

The Prophet ﷺ described them as days of “eating, drinking, and the remembrance of Allah.” Even the beloved sunnah fasts of Mondays and Thursdays are paused during the Ayyām at-Tashrīq, because these days are dedicated to a different kind of worship: dhikr, the remembrance of Allah.

And what a mercy that is. Dhikr is the easiest form of worship: it is the simplest to perform, and it is the most rewarding. Dhikr does not require wudu or a special place. Whether you’re walking, commuting, folding laundry, or lying in bed, your tongue can be alive with the remembrance of Allah.

One of the most beautiful forms of dhikr specific to these days is the takbīrāt – glorifying Allah aloud in a specific format. The scholars mention two types:

• The fixed (muqayyad) takbīrāt, recited after every obligatory prayer, starting from Fajr on the 9th of Dhul Hijjah until ‘Asr on the 13th. These are said aloud and in congregation, whether at home, in the masjid, or even when praying individually.
• The general (mutlaq) takbīrāt, which can be said at any time during the days and nights of Dhul Hijjah. There is no restriction. One can recite these takbīrāt in the morning or night, before or after salah, while walking, cooking, or working. 

The commonly recited takbīr is:

الله أكبر الله أكبر لا إله إلا الله والله أكبر الله أكبر ولله الحمد

Allāhu Akbar, Allāhu Akbar, Lā ilāha illa Allāh, wa Allāhu Akbar, Allāhu Akbar wa lillāhi al-hamd.

“Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest, there is no deity except Allah, and Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest and to Allah belongs all praise.”

This takbīr not only reminds us of the greatness of Allah, it lifts the spirit and reconnects us with the central truth of our faith: lā ilāha illa Allāh, the oneness of Allah. In these days, the sound of takbīr in homes, markets, and masājid is a sign of life, of hearts connected to their Creator and communities united in remembrance of the Merciful. 

In Surah al-Aḥzāb, Allah commands:

The emphasis here is not just on remembrance, but much remembrance. Not occasionally. Not just around the five prayers. But constantly. In another verse, in Surah al-Jumuʿah, Allah tells us:

Success isn’t measured by wealth, titles, or achievement. It’s measured by how close we are to our Creator. The more you remember Him, the more you draw near. And when we forget Him, we risk something far more dangerous:

If we don’t fill our time and hearts with Allah’s remembrance, Shaytān rushes to fill the void. Worse still, turning away from dhikr leads to pain and distress:

In contrast, Allah beautifully affirms:

The peace we are often searching for is already within reach. One SubhānAllah, one Alhamdulillāh, one Allāhu Akbar. This is enough to console the soul and soften the heart.

A companion once came to the Prophet ﷺ overwhelmed by the many acts of worship and asked for something simple to hold onto. The Prophet ﷺ responded:

Let your tongue be moist with the remembrance of Allah.

This advice is profound. Not everyone can pray all night, fast regularly, or give large sums in charity. But everyone can say Lā ilāha illa Allah with sincerity, with intention, with consistency.

Even in the Qur’an, Allah says:

What more could we ask for than to be remembered by the Lord of the worlds? In another verse, Allah reminds us:

Greater than what? Greater than anything else. Because dhikr keeps our hearts alive, even while doing the most mundane tasks. And perhaps it’s this simplicity, this constant connection, that makes it so beloved to Allah.

So in these Ayyām at-Tashrīq, let us fill our days and nights with the remembrance of Allah. May Allah make us among those who remember Him much, and may He remember us in gatherings far greater than any we could imagine.

Ameen.

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