Eid Days Are for Zikr and Remembering Allah

The Eid days are for zikr. Allah did not place the joy of Eid outside worship; He placed remembrance inside it. The days after Eid al-Adha — especially the Days of Tashriq — are days of takbeer, gratitude, eating, family gatherings, sacrifice, and remembering Allah often.

Many Muslims prepare intensely for the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah, then suddenly slow down once Eid prayer finishes. Yet the Qur'an directs believers toward remembrance precisely in these days. Allah says:

“And remember Allah during the appointed days.” (Surah al-Baqarah 2:203)

The scholars of tafsir, including Ibn Kathir and al-Qurtubi, explained that these “appointed days” refer to the Days of Tashriq: the 11th, 12th, and 13th of Dhul-Hijjah. These are not spiritually empty days after worship. They are days designed for visible, audible remembrance.

What are the Days of Tashriq?

The Days of Tashriq are the three days after Eid al-Adha. Pilgrims in Mina continue their rites, while Muslims around the world continue takbeer, sacrifice, prayer, feeding others, and remembrance.

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:

“The Days of Tashriq are days of eating, drinking, and remembering Allah.” (Sahih Muslim, 1141)

The hadith is striking because it joins ordinary human enjoyment with worship. Islam does not demand monastic withdrawal during Eid. Eating with family, hosting guests, preparing meat from the udhiyah, and gathering after prayer can all become acts connected to Allah when the tongue remains alive with zikr.

Eid takbeer after prayers

One of the clearest ways Muslims revive remembrance in these days is through the takbeer of Eid. Across the Sunni madhhabs, Muslims maintained the practice of public takbeer during Dhul-Hijjah, especially after prayers.

The wording varies slightly across regions, but the well-known form is:

Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar, la ilaha illa Allah. Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar wa lillahi al-hamd.

Companions such as Ibn Umar and Abu Hurayrah (radiyallāhu ʿanhumā) would go into the marketplaces during the ten days making takbeer aloud, and people would follow them. Ibn Hajar mentions these narrations in Fath al-Bari while discussing the visible sunnahs of Dhul-Hijjah.

For many families today, reviving takbeer can be surprisingly simple:

1. Say takbeer after the obligatory prayers during the Days of Tashriq.

2. Teach children one short form and repeat it together.

3. Replace background noise during Eid drives with takbeer or Qur'an.

4. Begin meals by consciously thanking Allah aloud.

Small habits repeated across three days shape the spiritual memory of Eid inside a home.

“Remember Allah in the days appointed”

The phrase “remember Allah in the days appointed” carries a deeper meaning than repeating words mechanically. Al-Tabari explains that remembrance here includes takbeer after prayers, mentioning Allah during sacrifice, and keeping the heart attentive to Him throughout the days.

That wider understanding matters. Some Muslims think zikr only means sitting quietly with prayer beads. The Qur'an presents remembrance as something woven through ordinary movement: prayer, travel, sacrifice, food, trade, and family life.

This is why the Prophet ﷺ connected remembrance to eating and drinking in the hadith above. Even celebration should not become heedlessness.

What to say in Eid takbeer

Many people search every year for what to say in Eid takbeer. The wording itself matters less than consistency and presence of heart. The early Muslims preserved several authentic forms.

Among the widely transmitted forms is:

Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar kabira.

Another includes praise:

Allahu akbar kabira, wal-hamdu lillahi kathira, wa subhanAllahi bukratan wa asila.

The purpose is not performance. It is reviving awe. Eid can easily become consumed by shopping, cooking, photography, and social obligations. Takbeer interrupts distraction and returns the heart to gratitude.

Why the Eid days are for zikr

The wisdom behind abundant remembrance in these days becomes clearer when we look at the structure of Dhul-Hijjah itself. The first ten days are days of striving. Then comes Eid sacrifice, feeding others, family visits, and communal prayer. After that come the Days of Tashriq — not as a spiritual decline, but as an extension of worship.

Ibn al-Qayyim wrote in Madarij al-Salikin that remembrance gives life to the heart just as water gives life to the earth. The believer does not leave remembrance after worship seasons end; rather, worship seasons train the believer to remember Allah more consistently afterward.

That is especially needed after Ramadan and Dhul-Hijjah. Many Muslims feel spiritually strong during sacred seasons, then disconnected once routines return. The Days of Tashriq teach continuity.

Simple ways families can revive days of tashriq remembrance

You do not need a long program to revive days of tashriq remembrance. Most homes can begin with a few deliberate practices.

• Read Surah al-Hajj or the closing verses of Surah al-Baqarah after Maghrib.

• Keep takbeer audible in the house between prayers.

• Let children hear adults making natural zikr during cooking, driving, and serving guests.

• After Eid meals, pause for one minute of gratitude before everyone disperses to phones and screens.

Families who build these moments often discover that children remember the atmosphere of worship more than long lectures.

The virtues of Dhul Hijjah remembrance

The virtues of Dhul Hijjah remembrance are tied to both Qur'an and Sunnah. Allah singled out these days in the Qur'an, and the Prophet ﷺ described them as days beloved to Allah for righteous deeds.

In Sahih al-Bukhari, the Prophet ﷺ said:

“There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these ten days.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, 969)

Scholars explained that remembrance is among the greatest of those deeds because it accompanies nearly every other act of worship. A person may not be able to perform Hajj, sacrifice an animal, or fast continuously, but nearly everyone can remember Allah with the tongue and heart.

If you are trying to build a stronger family rhythm around Qur'an and worship after Eid, our family learning programs and one-to-one Quran and Islamic studies courses are designed around realistic routines. Parents looking for a gentle structure for children can also explore online Quran classes for kids and our guide on how many Quran lessons per week is right for my child?.

Adult learners returning to Qur'an after years away may also benefit from our article on starting Quran as an adult or revert.

Zikr after Eid keeps worship alive

One reason believers feel emptiness after major worship seasons is that they unconsciously separate sacred moments from ordinary life. Eid corrects that separation. These are days of meat, guests, dishes, traffic, children, and takbeer all together.

The believer does not wait for isolation to remember Allah. He remembers Allah while living.

That is why the Qur'an did not merely say “worship Allah” in these days. It specifically said: “And remember Allah during the appointed days.” The wording is practical, continuous, and deeply human.

If you want to build a steadier relationship with Qur'an, tajweed, and Islamic learning beyond seasonal motivation, you can book a free trial lesson or explore structured study options through Waraqa's teaching approach.

FAQ

What are the Days of Tashriq in Islam?

The Days of Tashriq are the 11th, 12th, and 13th of Dhul-Hijjah, the three days after Eid al-Adha. They are days of remembrance, takbeer, eating, gratitude, and continued worship.

What is the meaning of “remember Allah in the days appointed”?

The phrase comes from Surah al-Baqarah 2:203. Classical mufassirs explained that it refers especially to remembering Allah during the Days of Tashriq through takbeer, prayer, sacrifice, and general remembrance.

What to say in Eid takbeer?

A common form is: Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar, la ilaha illa Allah. Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar wa lillahi al-hamd. Several authentic variations exist among Muslims.

Can ordinary Eid activities count as worship?

Yes. The Prophet ﷺ described the Days of Tashriq as days of eating, drinking, and remembering Allah. Ordinary acts become meaningful when connected to gratitude, remembrance, and good intention.

When does Eid takbeer after prayers end?

Many scholars state that the takbeer after obligatory prayers continues through the Days of Tashriq until the afternoon prayer of the 13th of Dhul-Hijjah.