Dua Upon Sighting the Eid Moon
3 Things to Know About the Takbir
The sighting of the crescent moon of Shawwal marks the end of the blessed month of Ramadan and the arrival of Eid al-Fitr, a day of joy, gratitude and celebration. With the appearance of the Eid moon, the believer begins the takbir, magnifying Allah for the favour of completing the fast and for guiding them through the blessed month. The dua upon sighting the Eid moon centres on this takbir, greeting the crescent that ends Ramadan with the praise and glorification of Allah.
اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَاللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ وَلِلَّهِ الْحَمْدُ
Allāhu akbar, Allāhu akbar, lā ilāha illa-llāh, wallāhu akbar, Allāhu akbar, wa lillāhil-hamd.
“Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest, there is no god but Allah, and Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest, and to Allah belongs all praise.”
After a month of fasting and worship, the Eid moon brings the believer a day to rejoice in the bounty of Allah, while remembering that the true celebration is gratitude to Him. This guide explains the dua upon sighting the Eid moon and three things to know about the takbir, so that the believer may greet the crescent of Eid in the way the companions did, magnifying Allah for His guidance and entering the day of Eid with hearts full of gratitude and praise.
The Takbir of Eid
When the crescent of Shawwal is sighted, marking the end of Ramadan, the believer begins the takbir, the magnification of Allah, which is recited from the night before Eid until the Eid prayer. The companions would recite the beautiful takbir quoted above, declaring that Allah is the Greatest and that all praise belongs to Him. This takbir fills the night and morning of Eid with the glorification of Allah, expressing gratitude for the completion of the blessed month.
Allah Himself commanded the believers to magnify Him upon completing the fast, instructing them to complete the number of the fast and to magnify Allah for guiding them, so that they might be grateful. The takbir of Eid fulfils this command, as the believer praises Allah for the favour of fasting Ramadan and for the guidance He bestowed. The dua upon sighting the Eid moon thus begins a beautiful season of takbir, turning the joy of Eid into the praise and remembrance of Allah.
اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ وَلِلَّهِ الْحَمْدُ
Allahu akbaru wa lillahil-hamd
Allah is the Greatest and to Allah belongs all praise
Three Things to Know About the Takbir
The takbir is the beautiful proclamation that fills the night and day of Eid. These three things help the believer recite the takbir of Eid.
- The takbir begins at the sighting of the Eid moon, recited from the night before Eid until the prayer.
- It magnifies Allah for completing the fast, fulfilling the command to magnify Him for His guidance.
- It is recited aloud, in homes, streets and mosques, filling the day of Eid with the praise of Allah.
Greeting the Day of Eid
The dua upon sighting the Eid moon greets the crescent that ends Ramadan with the takbir, magnifying Allah for the completion of the fast. By beginning the takbir at the sighting of the moon, magnifying Allah for His guidance, and reciting the takbir aloud through the night and day of Eid, the believer greets the celebration in the way the companions did. The Eid moon brings a day of joy and gratitude, and the believer fills it with the praise of Allah, thankful for the blessed month He allowed them to complete.
This practice pairs naturally with the dua before Eid prayer and the dua upon sighting the Ramadan moon. Together they help the believer mark the beginning and end of Ramadan with the remembrance of Allah.
When the crescent of Eid is sighted, the believer begins the takbir, magnifying Allah for the gift of Ramadan. Learn the duas of Eid with us on YouTube, where the takbir is recited aloud, on TikTok for a reminder to greet the Eid moon with praise, and on Facebook where readers share how they celebrate Eid.
Frequently Asked Questions
The dua upon sighting the Eid moon is the takbir that begins the celebration: Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar, la ilaha illallah, wallahu akbar, Allahu akbar, wa lillahil-hamd, magnifying Allah and praising Him for completing Ramadan.
The takbir of Eid al-Fitr is recited from the sighting of the Shawwal crescent on the night before Eid until the Eid prayer. It fills the night and morning of Eid with the magnification of Allah.
Because Allah commanded the believers to complete the fast and to magnify Him for guiding them, so that they might be grateful. The takbir expresses gratitude to Allah for the favour of fasting Ramadan and His guidance.
The crescent moon of Shawwal marks the end of Ramadan and the arrival of Eid al-Fitr, a day of joy, gratitude and celebration. Its sighting begins the takbir and brings the blessed month to a close.
Yes, the takbir of Eid is recited aloud in homes, streets and mosques, filling the night and day of Eid with the praise of Allah. The companions would raise their voices with the takbir on Eid.
Eid al-Fitr is the festival that marks the end of Ramadan, beginning with the sighting of the Shawwal crescent. It is a day of joy and gratitude on which the believer praises Allah for the favour of completing the fast.