extremely painful. Make me lie on my front placing my forehead towards the ground so that you may not look at my face while sacrificing me. And when you go to my dear mother, please convey my Salam to her. And if you consider it appropriate, so please give my Qamees [i.e. a long loose and full-sleeved shirt] to her. This will help to console her in being patient. Sayyiduna Ibraheem عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام said, ‘O my son! How helpful you have been for me in carrying out the commandment of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ!’

Thereafter, Sayyiduna Ibraheem عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام tied his son, made him lie on his front with his forehead placed towards the ground; having sharpened his knife, Sayyiduna Ibraheem عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام, looking away, drew the knife across the neck of Sayyiduna Isma’eel عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام but the knife did not cut, i.e. his throat was not slit. (Tafseer-e-Khaazin, vol. 4, pp. 22)

Heavenly ram and blessed words

After Sayyiduna Ibraheem عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام made Sayyiduna Isma’eel عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام lie       on the ground to slaughter him, Sayyiduna Jibraeel عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام brought a ram from Paradise as Fidyah with the commandment of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ and uttered loudly from a distance ‘اَللّٰهُ اَكۡبَرُ اَللّٰهُ اَكۡبَرُ’. Listening to this voice, Sayyiduna Ibraheem عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام lifted his head towards the sky and realized that this test from Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ has turned into ease and a ram has been sent as Fidyah to be sacrificed in place of his son. Delighted, he عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام said ‘لَآ اِلٰهَ اِلَّا اللّٰهُ وَاللّٰهُ اَكۡبَرُ’. Listening to this, Sayyiduna Isma’eel عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام said, ‘اَللّٰهُ اَكۡبَرُ وَلِلّٰهِ الۡحَمۡدُ’. Since then, the Sunnah of reciting these blessed words by these three most revered and sacred personalities عَـلَـيْـهِمُ الـصَّلٰوةُ وَالـسَّـلَام will continue till the Day of Judgement. (Binayah Sharh Hidayah, vol. 3, pp. 130)

Dear Islamic brothers! The above-mentioned blessed words are called ‘Takbeer-e-Tashreeq’. Reciting it [i.e. Takbeer-e-Tashreeq] once loudly is Wajib, whereas reciting it thrice is preferable after all Fard Salahs offered with the first Jama’at of the Masjid from the Fajr Salah of 9^th to the ‘Asr Salah of 13^th Zul-Hijja-til-Haraam. It is Wajib to recite Takbeer-e-Tashreeq immediately after performing the Salam. The Takbeer-e-Tashreeq is as follows: