The Takbeer of Surat Ad-Duhaa

It was still in the early stages of the Prophet’s Da’wah (salla Allahu alayhi wassalam); and the mockery and persecution was intensifying.

Our dear Prophet found comfort, solace, and support in the revelation (wahy) of Quran. But right at this moment, revelation ceased and days if not weeks passed without any visitation from Jibreel (alayhissalam). To add to his anxiety, the Makkans began taunting Rasoolullah claiming his Lord has abandoned and detested him (إن محمدا قد ودعه ربه وقلاه).

So at this, Allah (swt) revealed in defense of and relief for His Prophet (salla Allahu alayhi wassalam) the verses we now know as Surat Ad-Duhaa. In this Surah, Allah (swt) swears by the brightness of the morning and the darkness of the night, that Allah (swt) has NOT abandoned him and has NOT detested him.

 

Just as Jibreel (alayhissalam) completed relaying this Surah to our Prophet and before the Prophet’s repetition, Rasoolullah (salla Allahu alayhi wassalam) expressed relief and gratitude with the simple phrase:

“Allahu Akbar”

Allahu Akbar for the pure joy of having received revelation once again and extreme gratitude for the blessings and promises so beautifully listed in this Surah.

It is now a Sunnah passed down to us.

In the Qiraa’ah of Ibn Kathir (not to be confused with the Mufassir), the Ruwaat will recite the Takbeer either before or after Surat ad-Duhaa and for every surah after that until Surat An-Naas.

Imam Bazzi, the Rawi of Ibn Kathir (rahimahumAllah) said,

“Imam Ash-Shaafi’i said to me that if you leave the Takbeer then you have left a Sunnah from the Sunan of Rasoolullah (salla Allahu alayhi wassalam).”

[As-Suyooti’s Al-Itqaan]

The difference of opinion whether one should recite it before or after the Surah lies in this question:

“Did the Prophet (salla Allahu alayhi wassalam) recite the Takbeer due to Jibreel’s conclusion of the Surah or was it due to the Prophet’s commencement of the Surah?”

In either case the point is made:

Allahu Akbar. We have made Khatam of the Quran. Allahu Akbar.