Thread by @sirnucy

On the Takbīrāt of the 'īd prayer

Every 'īd, I have to answer a particular question: "Why are the Takbīrāt of 'īd prayer seven and five respectively? Is it true that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم was so saddened by the demise of his son that day that

he continued to say the Takbīrāt unconsciously until angel Jibrīl came to stop him?"

This question is not only silly, but ridiculous as well. Here's why:

(1) There's no established proof that the prophet's son, Ibrāhīm, died on the day of 'īd. The story is a fabricated one.

(2) Assuming that the Prophet's child died on the day of 'īd and the Takbīrāt were made in error, are we then accusing Allāh of making legislation on an erroneous basis? أعوذ بالله أن أكون من الجاهلين

(3) On one occasion, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم was leading the

Sahābah in prayer while everyone was wearing their sandals. Suddenly, be removed his sandals and kept them to his left side. On seeing this, the Sahābah all followed suit. After the Salāt he explained to them that he only removed his sandals because angel Jibrīl came to him

and informed him that there's a filth beneath his sandals. Assuming that it were true that he forgot due to the demise of his son and that Jibrīl indeed came to him, why didn't he inform the Sahābah about this as is known of him?

(4) Assuming that this claim were true, was the prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم so forgetful that he could repeat a similar error in the second raka'ah? This is an insult to his personality صلى الله عليه وسلم
(5) There are numerous Ahādīth indicating that the

Prophetصلى الله عليه وسلم made mistakes the number of raka'āt that he prayed in some of the five daily prayers and was immediately corrected by the Sahābah and he took to correction and did the Sujūd sahwi. If the Sahābah had the slightest thought that he was

making a mistake, do you think that they won't call his attention to it?

(6) It is NOT necessary for us to be told the reason or wisdom behind all the legislations in Islām. It is the right of the Law Giver, Allāh, to either inform us of the reason/wisdom behind

the legislation of acts of worship or keep it away from us.

(7) Salāt is of various forms, and each is unique according to the occasion for which it is legislated. It is the choice of the Law Giver, Allāh, that the 'īd prayer, unlike the normal five daily prayers has

7 and 5 Takbīrāt in its first and second raka'ah respectively.

(8) The Janāzah prayer is one unit of prayer (like the list unit of witr), yet it is different from witr in that it has neither Rukū' nor Sujūd. It has multiple Takbīrāt like the 'īd prayer (could be up to 9)

yet it is different from 'īd prayer in the sense that for the latter, no dhikr is required after each takbīr unlike the former. Has anyone questioned the rationale behind this form of prayer?

(9) Salātul Khusūf (the eclipse prayer) has two standings, two recitation of Fātiha and Sūrah per raka'ah. Has anyone claimed that the prophet made a mistake here, too?

May Allāh grant us better understanding