Takbir edit
extracted from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia
(using Wikipedia Reflection Script)
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Takbir edit
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| Arabic |
| الله أَكْبَر |
| Transliteration |
| Allahu Akbar, allāhu akbar |
| Translation |
| God is great |
The takbīr or takbeer (تَكْبِير) is the act of saying the phrase Allāhu Akbar, الله أكبر. Usually translated "God is great" or "God is [the] greatest," it is a ubiquitous Arabic expression, used as both an informal expression of faith and as a formal declaration.
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The form Allāhu is the nominative of Allah "[the one] God" The form akbar is the elative of the adjective kabīr "great ". In Semitic languages, an elative may indicate a superlative (best), or a comparative (better). The term takbīr (تَكْبِير) itself is the stem II verbal noun (tafʿīlun) of the triliteral root k-b-r "great".1
The word akbar as used in the takbir indicates the superlative, usually translated as "greatest". In Arabic usage, akbar may also be used as a comparative, in which sense it may be approximately translated as "greater" (dictionaries carry both senses of akbar).
This phrase is recited by Muslims in numerous different situations. For example, when they are happy or wish to express approval, when they want to praise a speaker, during battles, and even times of extreme stress or euphoria.
The phrase is said during each stage of both obligatory prayers, which are supposed to be performed five times a day, and supererogatory 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.
Note that takbīr (تَكْبِير) is only the name of the expression, while the phrase itself is "Allahu Akbar". In the Islamic world, instead of applause, often someone will shout "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 Vilayat Noxçiyçö-Içkeriya (part of Caucasian Emirate), based on flag of Chechen Republic of Ichkeria |
 Current flag of Afghanistan, with the phrase beneath the Shahadah |
 Current flag of Iraq with stylized Kufic script |
 Current flag of the Islamic republic of Iran, introduced in 1980 |
.svg) Flag of the 1930s Waziristan resistance movement |
Kanye West uses the words Allahu Akbar in his popular song Heard Em' Say.
