that Ibn Abi Bazzah (1) had recited to ‘Ikrimah ibn Sulayman ibn Kathir al-Makki, and ‘Ikrimah informed him that he had recited to Shibl ibn ‘Abbad and Isma‘il ibn Qustantin. The two informed him that they had recited to ‘Abd Allah ibn Kathir, and ‘Abd Allah ibn Kathir—may Allah be pleased with them all—(2) informed them that he had recited to Mujahid. Mujahid informed him that he had recited to Ibn ‘Abbas, and Ibn ‘Abbas informed him that he had recited to Ubayy ibn Ka‘b.

The imam and Quran-reciter Abu Nasr Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn ‘Ali also informed us—and I recited to him in Merv—and said: “Al-Sharif Abu al-Qasim ‘Ali ibn Muhammad al-Zaydi transmitted the takbir practice to me, and I recited to him in the frontier town of Harran. He said: Abu Bakr Muhammad ibn al-Hasan ibn Ziyad al-Mawsili, known as al-Naqqash, narrated to us—and I recited to him in Madinat al-Salam. Abu Rabi‘ah Muhammad ibn Ishaq al-Raba‘i narrated to us—and I recited to him in Makkah. He said: Abu al-Hasan Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Abd Allah ibn Abi Bazzah (3) narrated to us, and I recited it to him. He said to me: ‘I recited it to ‘Ikrimah ibn Sulayman, who informed me that he had recited to Isma‘il ibn Qustantin and Shibl ibn ‘Abbad. When I reached “By the morning brightness,” they said to me: “Pronounce the takbir with the conclusion of every surah until you complete the Quran. For we recited to Ibn Kathir, and he instructed us to do so. He informed us that he had recited to Mujahid, who instructed him to do so; and Mujahid informed him that he had recited to Ibn ‘Abbas, who instructed him to do so (4). Ibn ‘Abbas informed him that he had recited to Ubayy ibn Ka‘b, who instructed him to do so; and Ubayy informed him that he had recited to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, who instructed him to do so (5).”’

The reason for the takbir was that, when the revelation was withheld, the polytheists said, “His devil has abandoned him and bid him farewell.” This grieved the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. Then, when “By the morning brightness” was revealed, the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, pronounced the takbir out of joy at the revelation’s descent; thus, they adopted it as a sunnah (6).