that which is required. Their claim that people follow them in this is an unsubstantiated assertion with no evidence for it, and therefore it is not to be heeded.

Section: The formula of the takbir is: "Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, la ilaha illa Allah, wallahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, wa lillahi al-hamd." This is the opinion of Umar, Ali, and Ibn Masud. This was also stated by al-Thawri, Abu Hanifah, Ishaq, and Ibn al-Mubarak, except that he added: "ala ma hadana" (upon what He has guided us), based on His saying: "That you may glorify Allah for that which He has guided you" (14). Malik and al-Shafi'i said: One should say: "Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar" (15) three times; because Jabir prayed during the days of Tashriq, and when he finished his prayer, he said: "Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar." This is not said except by way of tawqif (revelatory instruction). Also, because the takbir is the slogan of the Eid, so it should be odd-numbered, like the takbir of the prayer and the khutbah. Our evidence is the report of Jabir from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) (16), which is an explicit text regarding the manner of the takbir, and that it is the statement of the two Rightly-Guided Caliphs and the statement of Ibn Masud. The statement of Jabir cannot be heeded in light of the statement of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), and it cannot be prioritized over the statement of any of those whom we have mentioned; so how could it be prioritized over the statement of all of them? Furthermore, it is a takbir performed outside of the prayer, so it is even-numbered, like the takbir of the adhan. Their claim that Jabir would not do it except by way of tawqif is invalid for several reasons: First, it is reported that he held a view contrary to it, so how can one abandon what he stated explicitly due to the possibility of the existence of its opposite? Second, if his statement were by way of tawqif, then the statement of those who differed with him would also be by way of tawqif; so how can they prioritize the weaker [evidence] over that which is stronger than it, despite the leadership of those who differed with him, their excellence in knowledge, and their greater number? Third, this is not a doctrine held by them, for the statement of a Companion is not, in their view, assumed to be by way of tawqif. Fourth, it is only assumed to be by way of tawqif if it contradicts the principles, and the remembrance of Allah the Almighty does not contradict the principle, especially if it is odd-numbered.