The ( , ) is an Islamic expression consisting of the Arabic phrase ( , ), conventionally translated as "God is the greatest" or "God is great", and literally meaning "God is greater". It is a fundamental and repeatedly used proclamation of the absolute supremacy of Allah.Wensinck, A.J., "Takbīr", in: Encyclopaedia of Islam, Second Edition, Edited by: P. Bearman, Th. Bianquis, C.E. Bosworth, E. van Donzel, W.P. Heinrichs. Consulted online on 09 September 2023 First published online: 2012
The term takbīr is the Arabic verbal noun derived from the reflexive verb kabbara, meaning "to magnify" or "to acknowledge or confess the greatness of". In technical religious usage it denotes the recitation of Allāhu ʾAkbar in Muslim worship and devotion. The expression is used in formal salah (prayer), in the ādhān or call to prayer, during the Hajj, in personal devotion and informal professions of faith, and in circumstances of distress or joy, as well as to express determination or defiance. It is also used by Orthodox Arab Christians as an expression of faith.Emma Bennett, What does Allahu Akbar mean?, The Telegraph (UK), 12 June 2016. The phrase is furthermore the official motto of Iran and Iraq.
The expression is connected with the wording of , kabbirhu takbīran, rendered as "make him (God) greatly great". In this usage, "magnifying" God does not imply increasing God's greatness, but acknowledging it. In this sense it can be compared with the Christian Magnificat, in which "magnifying" similarly denotes recognition of divine greatness.
Etymology
The Arabic word () means big from the Semitic root . A cognate word for this root exists in Hebrew as (). The Arabic word () is the elative form ("bigger, biggest") of the adjective ("big"). When used in the it is usually translated as "biggest", but some authors translate it as "bigger".E. W. Lane, Arabic English Lexicon, 1893, gives for kabir: "bigger, and biggest, in body, or corporeal substance, and in estimation or rank or dignity, and more, or most, advanced in age, older, and oldest" (p. 2587) ."The formula, as the briefest expression of the absolute superiority of the One God, is used in Muslim life in different circumstances, in which the idea of God, His greatness and goodness is suggested." Wensinck, A. J. The Encyclopaedia of Islam, 2nd edition. Brill, 2000. Volume 10, T-U, p. 119, Takbir. The term itself is the stem II verbal noun of the root , meaning "big", from which akbar "bigger" is derived. The form is a nominative of Allah, meaning "God".Böwering, Gerhard, God and His Attributes, Encyclopaedia of the Qurʼān, Brill, 2007.Macdonald, D. B. The Encyclopaedia of Islam, 2nd edition. Brill, 1971. Volume 3, H-Iram, p. 1093, Ilah.
The is sometimes translated into English as "God is greater", which is short for "God is greater than all" (). It is an example of an Arabic idiom where an incomplete sentence, abbreviated because of its familiarity, is considered grammatically correct.
Usage in Islamic rituals
This phrase is recited by Muslims in many different situations.
In prayer The phrase is said during each stage of both salah (obligatory prayers, performed five times a day), and nafl (supererogatory prayers, performed at will). The call to prayer by the muezzin to those outside the mosque (adhan) and the call to those inside to line up for the commencement of prayer (iqama) also contain the phrase.
While there are many short prayers like it, the is used more frequently than any other.
Following births and deaths The phrase is used after the birth of a child as a means of praising God. It is also part of Islamic funeral and burial customs.
During the Eid Festival and the Hajj During the festival of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, and also the days preceding it, Muslims recite the . This is particularly the case on the Day of Arafah.
During the halal slaughter of animals In the process of pronouncing the name of God while performing Dhabihah one must say .
Other social usage
The expression can be used in a variety of situations, from celebrations to times of grief.
In a historical account by someone who was present both at the birth of the ruler Abd Allah ibn al-Zubayr (7th century) and at his funeral, the author observes that was said on both occasions.
In times of joy and gratitude The can be used to express joy or surprise. It is also used as applause in religious contexts, such as after a Quran recital, as other forms of applause are considered less appropriate.
It is used to celebrate an election win. As a multi-purpose phrase, it is sometimes used by Arab football commentators as an expression of amazement, or even as a football chant.
In battle Historically, the has been used as a cry of victory during battle.Ludwig W. Adamec, Historical Dictionary of Islam, Scarecrow Press, 2nd ed. 2009, pg. 32 Ibn Ishaq's 8th century Life of Muhammed narrates two occasions when Muhammad proclaimed the during battle.Life of Mohammed [سيرة رسول الله] by Ibn Ishaq, translated by Alfred Guillaume, Oxford University Press, 1955, 17th printing, Karachi, 2004 https://archive.org/details/TheLifeOfMohammedGuillaume
Iran During the Iranian Revolution of 1979, it was shouted from rooftops in Iran during the evenings as a form of protest. The was later adopted as the official motto of Iran.Constitution of Iran, Article 18 This practice returned in the 2009 Iranian presidential election protests, which protested the election results.
Usage by Jihadists and Terrorists
The phrase has been used by Islamic terrorists during their attacks they carry out, becoming a globally associated with jihadist violence. Notably it has been used during the September 11th attacks., the 2004 Beslan School Siege, the 7 July 2005 London Bombings, the 2008 Mumbai attacks, the 2009 Fort Hood Shooting, the 2013 Boston Marathon Bombing, the 2015 Charlie Hebdo Shooting 2015 Baga massacre, the November 2015 Paris Attacks, the 2015–16 New Year's Eve Mass Rape and Sexual Assaults across Germanythe 2016 Nice Truck Attack, the 2017 Ariana Grande Manchester Concert Bombing,the 2017 Notre-Dame de Paris attack, the 2017 Barcelona attacks, the 2019 Sri Lanka church bombings on Easter, the October 7th attacks in Israel, the 2024 Crocus City Hall attack, the 2025 Pahalgam attack, and the 2025 Bondi Beach Hanukkah Shooting.
Professor Khaled A. Beydoun, author of The New Crusades: Islamophobia and the Global War on Muslims (2023), writes that the association of the phrase "Allah Akbar" with terrorism has been exacerbated by mass media and television pundits. He adds that films and shows also utilise it as a cinematic trope further cementing the association.
In politics In India, Asaduddin Owaisi, president of the AIMIM and Abu Taher Khan, representing TMC, after being elected as members of the Indian Parliament, ended their oath with the slogan of "Allahu Akbar".
Usage by Christians The phrase (Allah; meaning God in English) is recited by Arabic speaking Orthodox Christians as an expression of their faith. Palestinian Christians use Allah in their prayer to refer to the creator of the world, and the takbir as an expression of their faith. The use of takbir has been defended by Theodosios Hanna, the Palestinian Orthodox Archbishop of Sebastia.
Use on flags Afghanistan The Afghan constitution that came into force on January 4, 2004, required that Allāhu akbar be inscribed on the flag of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.McCarthy, Andrew C., "Cold Comfort on Islam and Apostasy; No one who's actually read the Afghan constitution should be surprised by the Abdul Rahman case", National Review, March 27, 2006, accessed February 11, 2010] After the 2021 Taliban offensive, the flag of the first emirate was readopted, and thus the takbīr removed from the flag.
Iran Allāhu akbar is written in stylised form across the bottom of the green stripe and the top of the red stripe of the flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran, adopted in 1980.
Iraq The phrase Allāhu akbar is written on the centre of the flag of Iraq.
During the Gulf War in January 1991, Saddam Hussein held a meeting with top military commanders, where it was decided to add the words Allāhu akbar (described as the Islamic battle cry) to Iraq's flag to boost his secular regime's religious credentials, casting himself as the leader of an Islamic army. Hussein described the flag as "the banner of jihad and monotheism".
In 2004, the US-picked Iraqi Governing Council approved a new flag for Iraq that abandoned symbols of Hussein's regime, such as the words Allāhu akbar. In January 2008, however, Iraq's parliament passed a law to change the flag by leaving in the phrase, but changing the calligraphy of the words Allāhu akbar, which had been a copy of Hussein's handwriting, to a Kufic script.Abdul-Zahra, Qassim, "Iraqi Lawmakers Vote to Change Flag," USA Today, January 22, 2008, accessed February 9, 2010 The Iraqi flag under Hussein had each of the two words of the phrase written in one of the spaces between the stars on the central band; the flag adopted in 2008 kept the phrase and removed the stars.
Other uses A resistance movement that fought British rule in Waziristan, Pakistan, used a red flag bearing Allāhu akbar in white letters.
The flag used by the Houthis in Yemen also includes bearing Allāhu akbar in green letters.
See also Dhikr Tasbih Tahmid Tahlil Tasmiyah Salawat Shahada Hallelujah Hallel Alláh-u-Abhá Deo optimo maximo
References
Sources
External links
Essay on the takbir at Slate