the interpretation of His saying, the Most High: "He has certainly succeeded who purifies himself (14) And mentions the name of his Lord and prays" (7). Thus, the excellence was specified to it, just as Jumu'ah was specified by its surah.

Section: The recitation shall take place after the takbir in both rak'ahs. Ahmad stated this explicitly. This has been narrated from Abu Hurayrah, the seven jurists of Medina (8), 'Umar ibn 'Abd al-'Aziz, al-Zuhri, Malik, al-Shafi'i, and al-Layth. It has also been narrated from Ahmad that one should perform the recitations consecutively (tawali), and the meaning of this is that he (9) recites the takbirs in the first rak'ah before the recitation, and in the second rak'ah after it. Abu Bakr chose this, and it has been narrated from Ibn Mas'ud, Hudhayfah, Abu Musa, Abu Mas'ud al-Badri, al-Hasan, Ibn Sirin, and al-Thawri. This is also the position of the Scholars of Opinion (Ashab al-Ra'y); this is due to what was narrated from Abu Musa, who said: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, used to perform his takbir like the takbir for the funeral prayer and perform the recitations consecutively. Narrated by Abu Dawud (10). Abu 'Aisha, a companion of Abu Hurayrah, narrated that Sa'id ibn al-'As asked Abu Musa and Hudhayfah: How did the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, perform the takbir during al-Adha and al-Fitr? Abu Musa replied: He used to perform four takbirs like the takbir for the funeral prayer. Hudhayfah said: He spoke the truth (11). Our evidence is what Kathir ibn 'Abd Allah narrated from his father, from his grandfather, that the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, performed the takbir in the two Eids: seven in the first [rak'ah] before the recitation, and five in the second before the recitation. Narrated by al-Athram, Ibn Majah, and al-Tirmidhi (12), who said: This is a hasan (good) hadith, and it is the best hadith on this subject.