When Does Eid al-Adha Takbir Start in 2026? Readings and Time Limits
One of the sunnah practices during the festival is reciting the takbir. The takbir is usually recited from the night of Eid until before and after the Eid prayer. In Indonesia, there is also the tradition of roaming takbir to spread the takbir in the surrounding area.
Quoted from NU Online, Sheikh Ibrahim al-Bajuri in Hasyiyah al-Bajuri states that if a person keeps the night of the festival alive, Allah will keep his heart alive at the moment people’s hearts are dying. One way to enliven the night is to raise the takbir. The takbir can be recited alone at home, in the mosque, or proclaimed via roaming takbir.
So, when does Eid al-Adha takbir start being proclaimed? And what is the takbir phrase that can be read on Eid al-Adha? Here is a summary of the Eid al-Adha takbir, drawn from the book Fikih Lebaran by Muhammad Abduh Tuasikal, the Ibrahim Texas Mosque website, and NU Online and NU Online Jabar below.
Types of Takbir for Eid al-Adha
Imam Abu Abdillah Muhammad ibn Qasim as-Syafi’i, in Fathul Qarib al-Mujib, explains that there are two types of takbir for Eid, namely mutlaq (unbounded) or murasil, and muqayyad. The difference between these two takbirs lies in the time and place of recitation. Here are the definitions, times, and places of the two takbirs.
Takbir Mursal or Mutlak
This takbir is known as the unbound takbir. It is not tied to a specific time or place. It can be uttered at home, in a mosque, on the street, and is not bound by prayer times.
Although it can be read at any time, this takbir is recommended to be proclaimed from sunset on the night of the festival until the imam begins the Eid prayer. This takbir can be recited for both Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha.
Takbir Muqayyad
Unlike the mursal takbir, the muqayyad takbir is uttered after every prayer, whether obligatory or sunnah. According to the Shafi’i madhhab, this takbir is bound or recommended specifically for Eid al-Adha, but not recommended for Eid al-Fitr according to the Shafi’i school.
Based on the evidence from Umar, Ali, and Ibn Abbas, scholars agree that the muqayyad takbir begins at Fajr on the Day of Arafah and continues until Asr on the last day of Tasyrik. This practice is also supported by narrations reported by Ibn Abi Syaibah, Ibn Khuzaimah, and Baihaqi, which state that this takbir is recited after Fajr on the Day of Arafah until after Asr on the final Tasyrik day.
Starting When Does Eid al-Adha Takbir 2026?
Based on the above, the takbir specifically recommended for Eid al-Adha is muqayyad. This takbir can be read from after the Fajr prayer on the Day of Arafah (9 Dzulhijjah) until after the Asr prayer on the last Tasyrik day (13 Dzulhijah). In other words, you can start takbir after the Fajr prayer on 26 May 2026 and finish after the Asr prayer on 30 May 2026.
The schedule to help is as follows:
Tuesday, 26 May 2026 / 9 Dzulhijjah 1447 H: Start after Fajr prayer
Wednesday, 27 May 2026 / 10 Dzulhijjah 1447 H
Thursday, 28 May 2026 / 11 Dzulhijjah 1447 H
Friday, 29 May 2026 / 12 Dzulhijjah 1447 H
Saturday, 30 May 2026 / 13 Dzulhijjah 1447 H: Maximum after the Asr prayer
In line with scholars’ guidance, you may say the takbir after every obligatory and sunnah prayer within this window. Outside this window, you may also perform the absolute takbir from the night of Takbir until before the Eid prayer is performed. In addition to roaming takbir, the takbir may also be recited while travelling to the Eid prayer location.
Readings for Eid al-Adha Takbir 2026
There are several forms of takbir that can be read during Eid al-Adha, as follows:
Takbir 1
One of the takbir phrases recommended to be read on the night of the festival and on the day of Eid is mentioned by Imam An-Nawawi in Al-Majmu’ Sharh Muhadzdzab. This takbir is quoted from Imam al-Shafi’i and is popular among Shafi’i scholars. It can be recited three times with the following wording:
اللهُ أَكْبَرُ اللهُ أَكْبَرُ اللهُ أَكْبَرُ
Latinnan: Allāhu akbar, Allāhu akbar, Allāhu akbar.
Translation: “Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest.”
Takbir 2
After reciting this takbir, some Shafi’i scholars also add the takbir aloud according to Imam al-Shafi’i’s old wording. The takbir is:
اللهُ اَكْبَرُ كَبِيْرًا وَالحَمْدُ للهِ كَثِيْرًا اللهُ اَكْبَرُ عَلَى مَا هَدَانَا وَالحَمْدُ للهِ عَلَى مَا أَوْلَانَا وَأَبْلَانَا
Latinnya: Allāhu akbar kabīrā, walhamdu lillāhi katsīrā, Allāhu akbar ’alā mā hadānā, wal hamdu lilāhi ’alā mā awlānā wa ablānā.
Meaning: “Allah is greater, the praise of Allah is abundant. Allah is greater over the guidance He has given us. Praise be to Allah for the blessings and tests He has placed upon us.” Wallahu a’lam.
Takbir 3
In addition to the above takbirs, there is another takbir commonly proclaimed by the public, especially during the takbir. This is narrated by Ibn Abi Syaibah from Ibn Mas’ud. Imam An-Nawawi explains that the wording of this takbir is not a problem, so it can be read on the day of Eid. The wording is as follows:
اللهُ أَكْبَرُ اللهُ أَكْبَرُ اللهُ أَكْبَرُ لَا إلٰهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَاللهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللهُ أَكْبَرُ وَلِلّٰهِ الْحَمْدُ
Latinnya: Allāhu akbar, Allāhu akbar, Allāhu akbar. Lā ilāha illallāh. wallāhu akbar. Allāhu akbar wa lillāhil hamdu.
Meaning: “Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest. There is no deity but Allah. Allah is the Greatest. All praise is due to Him.”
Takbir 4
There is also a longer takbir that includes additional dhikr. This wording is reported by Muslim based on the takbir and the dhikr recited by the Prophet on the Hill of Shafa. The words are as follows:
اللهُ أَكْبَرُ كَبِيْرًا وَالحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ كَثِيْرًا وَسُبْحَانَ اللّٰهِ بُكْرَةً وَأَصِيْلًا ل