As for the pilgrim who is in ihram, he begins the restricted takbir after the Dhuhr prayer on the Day of Sacrifice, because the talbiyah ceases with the stoning of Jamrat al-‘Aqabah, and the Sunnah time for that stoning is the forenoon of the Day of Sacrifice. At that point the pilgrim is in the same ruling as one who is no longer in ihram. Should he stone Jamrat al-‘Aqabah before dawn, he still does not start the takbir until after the Dhuhr prayer, in keeping with what normally occurs.” End quote.

The formula of the takbir is to say: Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar, la ilaha illa Allah; Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar, wa lillahi al-hamd.

There is no harm in people exchanging greetings of congratulations by saying to one another, “Taqabbala Allahu minna wa mink” (“May Allah accept from us and from you”).

Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah said, “It has been transmitted from a group of the Companions that they used to do so, and the leading imams, such as Ahmad and others, permitted it.” End quote.

The purpose of these greetings is to foster affection and show joy.

Imam Ahmad said, “I do not initiate it, but if someone begins with me, I respond.”

This is because returning a greeting is obligatory, whereas initiating a congratulation is neither a prescribed sunnah nor something forbidden; and there is no objection to shaking hands when offering congratulations.