Takbir

The takbir is an Arabic name for the phrase Allāhu Akbar (الله أكبر), a common Arabic expression, which can be translated as "God is Great,"[1] "God is Greater,"[2] or "God is the greatest."[3]

1 Definition and grammar
2 Usage
3 See also
4 References
5 External links

[edit] Definition and grammar

The consonantal root of "Akbar" is k-b-r; "Akbar" is the elative form of the adjective "kabīr". Some dictionary definitions are:

kabīr: Great, big, large, sizeable, bulky, huge, senior... (Dr. Rohi Baalbaki, 1995)
kabīr: Great, large, bulky, immense, heavy, serious, senior, elder... (F. Steingass, 1970)
Akbar: Greater, bigger, larger, major, senior, superior. (Dr. Rohi Baalbaki, 1995)
Akbar: Greater, greatest. (F. Steingass, 1970)

Allahu Akbar is a shortened form of the Arabic phrase Allahu Akbar min kulli shay, which means "God is greater than everything."

[edit] Usage

This phrase is recited by Muslims in numerous different situations. For example, when they are happy or wish to express approval, when an animal is slaughtered in a halaal fashion, when they want to praise a speaker, during battles, and even times of extreme stress or euphoria. The term has gained relative infamy in the eyes of some Westerners, who only encounter it as a battle-cry.

The phrase is said during each stage of both obligatory prayers, which are supposed to be performed five times a day, and superogatory prayers, which are performed at will. The Muslim call to prayer, or adhan, and to commence the prayer, or iqama, also contains the phrase, which is heard in cities all over the Muslim world.

The actual title of this phrase is takbīr (تَكْبِير), while the phrase itself is "Allahu Akbar". In the Islamic world, instead of applause, often someone will yell "takbir" and the crowd will respond "Allahu Akbar" in chorus.

The phrase "Allahu Akbar" is written on the center of the flag of Iraq, along the borders of the central white stripe on the flag of Iran, and beneath the Shahadah in the 2004 draft constitution of Afghanistan in white script on the central red background.

Current flag of the Islamic republic of Iran, introduced in 1980.

Current flag of Iraq with stylized Kufic script.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

Dr. Rohi Baalbaki (1995). Al-Mawrid, 7th, DAR EL-ILM LILMALAYIN, Beirut.
F. Steingass PhD, University of Munich (1970). Persian-English Dictionary, Including the Arabic words and phrases to be met with in literature.. Librairie Du Liban, Beirut.