Inkar al-Takbir al-Jamai wa Ghayrihi
- Author died
- 1413 AH
- Editions
- Matābi‘ Dār al-Kashshāf
Inkar al-Takbir al-Jamai wa Ghayrihi (Denunciation of Collective Takbir and Other Matters) is a legal treatise by the Saudi scholar Hammud ibn Abdullah al-Tuwayjiri (1334–1413 AH / 1915–1993 CE) addressing the prohibition of chanting the Eid takbir in unison, alongside several other religious practices and observances in al-Masjid al-Haram in Mecca.
Background and Composition
The treatise was the first of al-Tuwayjiri's works to be printed. Al-Tuwayjiri was prompted to compose it after observing congregants in al-Masjid al-Haram on the morning of Eid al-Fitr in 1377 AH (1958 CE), where individuals positioned atop the Zamzam structure and atop the Hanafi station (al-Makam al-Hanafi) engaged in antiphonal chanting of the takbir, tahlil, tahmid, and blessings upon the Prophet in high, melodic unison voices resembling singing. He witnessed a recurrence of this practice atop Zamzam the following year in 1378 AH after the demolition of the Hanafi station, and was informed by pilgrims that the same ritual took place during Eid al-Adha. Viewing these collective vocalizations as an unlawful innovation (bid'ah) and a mockery of the remembrance of God, he authored the tract to argue against them.
Contents and Arguments
The work focuses primarily on demonstrating that collective takbir in unison is unfounded in the Sunnah and constitutes a reprehensible innovation in manner, whereas lawful takbir is performed individually by each person. Al-Tuwayjiri substantiates his arguments with several textual proofs and historical reports:
- Precedents from the Companions: Al-Tuwayjiri adduces narrations reported by al-Tabarani, al-Darimi, and Muhammad ibn Waddah regarding Abdullah ibn Mas'ud and Abu Musa al-Ash'ari, who censured circles of worshippers counting their collective remembrances on pebbles in the mosque and expelled them for introducing an innovation.
- Musicality and Imitation: He criticizes the practice for employing melodic rhythms and pitch unison reminiscent of professional singers, arguing that the remembrance of God must be venerated above such performance.
- Disturbance to Worshippers: He cites traditions from the Muwatta, Abu Dawud, and al-Hakim prohibiting worshippers from raising their voices in prayer and Quran recitation to avoid distracting other worshippers, arguing that unauthorized collective chanting causes far greater disruption to those reciting and supplicating.
- Scriptural Commands: He references the Quranic injunction وَاذْكُرْ رَبَّكَ فِي نَفْسِكَ تَضَرُّعًا وَخِيفَةً وَدُونَ الْجَهْرِ مِنَ الْقَوْلِ ("And remember your Lord within yourself in humility and in fear without being loud of voice") and early exegetical statements ordering that remembrance be kept quiet and subdued.
Beyond the issue of takbir, the treatise addresses additional matters concerning al-Masjid al-Haram, including rectifying the manner of the call to prayer (adhan), preventing improper conduct among women during circumambulation (tawaf), prohibiting pilgrimage guides (mutawwifun) from stopping groups of pilgrims for collective supplication in narrow passageways obstructing tawaf, and enjoining the removal of manifest objectionable practices in the sanctuary.
Reception
The treatise was printed by Dar al-Kashshaf Press and featured an introductory endorsement by Abd al-Aziz ibn Baz dated 10 Shawwal 1380 AH (1961 CE), in which he commended al-Tuwayjiri's compilation of traditions against collective takbir and echoed his recommendations concerning the regulation of practices in al-Masjid al-Haram. The work has since been frequently cited by contemporary Saudi scholars as a comprehensive reference establishing that collective unison takbir lacks textual basis in the Prophet's Sunnah.
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