What are the takbirs that are recited [before] both ‘Eid prayers and what is the ruling for them?

It is recommended to recite the takbirs. Nothing specific concerning the phrasing of takbir was mentioned in the purified Sunnah. However some of the Companions such as Salman al-Farisi used to make the takbir saying: “Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar. There is no deity but God. Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, praise be to God.”

The order to do this is broad since the textual basis for it is unrestricted. God Most High says, “[He wants you to complete the prescribed period] and to glorify Him for having guided you” (Quran 2:185). Unrestricted matters are left unrestricted until something in the Shari‘ah comes to restrict them. Since long ago Egyptians, have used the well-known takbir phrasing of:

Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar. La ilaha illa Allah, Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar wa lilahu al-hamd. Allahu akbar kabiran wa al-hamd lillahi kathiran wa subhan Allahu bukratan wa asilan. La ilaha illa Allah wahdu. Sadaqa wa'du wa nasara 'abdu wa `a'azza jundu wa hazama al-ahzab wahdu. La ilaha illa Allah wa la na'bud illa iya mukhlisin lahu al-din walaw kariha al-kafirun. Allahum salli 'ala sayiduna Muhammad wa 'ala al sayiduna Muhammad wa 'ala as-hab sayiduna Muhammad wa 'ala ansar sayiduna Muhammad wa 'ala azwaj sayiduna Muhammad wa 'ala dhuriyyat sayiduna Muhammad wa salam tasliman kathiran.

Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar [There is no deity but God. Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar, praise be to God. God is ever greatest, much praise be to God. Glory to Him morning and evening, there is no deity but God. He fulfilled His promise, gave victory to His slave, strengthened His army, and He alone vanquished the confederates. There is no deity but God, Him alone we worship, being sincere in our religion even though the unbelievers are averse. O, God, make Your prayers and blessings be upon our master Muhammad, upon the family of our master the Prophet, his Companions, supporters, wives and upon the descendants of our master and praise him abundantly].

It is a valid legal formulation of the phrase, and al-Imam al-Shafi‘i (may God grant him mercy) commented upon it saying, "If one says Allahu Akbar as people do nowadays it is a good thing. If one adds more, it is also good. Any remembrance of God he adds I deem good.”

It is permissible to add praise and blessings upon our master Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) and his family, Companions, supporters, wives and progeny at the end of the takbir. The best form is one that combines mention of God and His Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). Praising the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) opens the door of acceptance for our deeds; scholars have said that sending prayers upon the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is always accepted even from hypocrites since it is related to his Excellency, our master the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).

Based on this, whoever claims that the person using this well-known phrasing is an innovator is the one closest to innovation since he has restricted what God and his Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) left open without having any evidence to do so. We embrace what our good ancestors deemed good and what the people have accepted and become accustomed to when it agrees with our noble Shari‘ah. Their prohibition of such phrasings is invalid, deserves no attention, and is unreliable.

And God Almighty knows best.

[1]Recorded by Imam Ahmed in his Musnad and Imam Muslim in his Sahih.
[2]Reported by Tammam through Abu Umama.