In each of the 17 rak‘ah s of prayers we have two sujud s...

In each of the 17 rak‘ah s of prayers we have two sujud s {prostrations} for each of which it is mustahabb to recite takbir —before and after the sujud (68 times in all). Every prayer has a qunut prior to which there is a takbir (5 times in all). At the end of each of the five daily prayers, there are three takbir s (15 times in all). After every prayer, we recite takbir 34 times as part of the Tasbihat Hadrat Fatimah az-Zahra ( ‘a ) (170 times in all).

Yet, what a pity that throughout our lives, we have not recited “ Allahu 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. Takbir in other prayers In the ‘Id al-Fitr [^2] and ‘Id al-Qurban [^3] prayers, not only in the prayers but also before and after the prayers, takbir constitutes all the chants.

In the Salah al-Ayat {Prayer for Signs},[^4] we have five ruku‘ and there is takbir for each ruku‘ . In the Salah al-Mayyit {Prayer for the Dead} also, five takbir s essentially constitute a pillar of the prayer. How we should recite the takbir in prayer Islam has explained the etiquette for every action.

In the recital of “ Allahu akbar ” some rules must also be observed such as the following: During the recital of takbir 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 takbir has already been recited.

Imam ar-Rida ( ‘a ) said: “The movement of the hands during the recital of takbir is effective in focusing the attention and having complete devotion and sincerity in supplication to God.”[^5] The fingers of the hands during takbir should be stretched together upward. The palms of the hands must be facing the qiblah .

The traditions have described the raising of the hands during takbir as the adornment of prayer.[^6] The meaning of takbir Allahu akbar implies that God is superior to all tangible and intangible, temporal and celestial beings. Allahu akbar means that God is greater than that which one could describe.

اى برتر از خيال و قياس و گمان و وهم وز هرچه گفتﻩايم و شنيديم و خواندﻩايم مجلس تمام گشت و به پايان رسيد عمر ما همچنان در اوّل وصف تو ماندﻩايم O He who is beyond imagination, analogy, illusion, and fancy! The gathering was finished and our lifespan came to an end. Yet, we are still at the beginning of describing You based on what we have said, heard and read.