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Allahu Akbar (God is Greater): Difference between revisions
→Difference between Allah and Ilah: cleaning up biased language
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'''Literal:''' I testify that there is no <font color="blue">god</font> but <font color="red">Allah</font> and I testify that Muhammad is the messenger of <font color="red">Allah</font>.}} | '''Literal:''' I testify that there is no <font color="blue">god</font> but <font color="red">Allah</font> and I testify that Muhammad is the messenger of <font color="red">Allah</font>.}} | ||
The phrase is commonly mistakenly translated to "There is no god but God." However, | The phrase is commonly mistakenly translated to "There is no god but God." However, Muslims often consider the name Allah as a proper noun, as opposed to a common noun descriptive applicable to any deity. Allah is can be seen as not simply the word for 'god' in Arabic (although many Arabic speakers see it this way), but as the ''name'' of Islam's deity. See [[Allah]] | ||
{{Quote|[http://bewley.virtualave.net/Riscreeds.html The Risala of 'Abdullah ibn Abi Zayd al-Qayrawani]<BR>A Treatise on Maliki Fiqh (Including commentary from ath-Thamr ad-Dani by al-Azhari)(310/922 - 386/996)|['''1.1a'''] The belief that Allah is One is the fundamental basis of Islam, and when Divine Unity is expressed, '''the name "Allah" must be used. It is not permissible to say, "There is no god but the Almighty"''' or use any other names except Allah for the shahada. Nothing at all resembles Him or is equal to Him.}} | {{Quote|[http://bewley.virtualave.net/Riscreeds.html The Risala of 'Abdullah ibn Abi Zayd al-Qayrawani]<BR>A Treatise on Maliki Fiqh (Including commentary from ath-Thamr ad-Dani by al-Azhari)(310/922 - 386/996)|['''1.1a'''] The belief that Allah is One is the fundamental basis of Islam, and when Divine Unity is expressed, '''the name "Allah" must be used. It is not permissible to say, "There is no god but the Almighty"''' or use any other names except Allah for the shahada. Nothing at all resembles Him or is equal to Him.}} | ||
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===Akbar=== | ===Akbar=== | ||
''' | Akbar is an example of what in Arabic is know as ism al-tafdil اسم التفضيل which is a form of the adjective which carries both the comparative and the supperlative meaning, in this case meaning both "greater (than)" and "greatest." 'Akbar' in English is thus translated 'greater,' not 'great' (as "greater" usually wouldn't make sense, the comparison is to everythi9ng). | ||
'''Great''' = <font size="6"><font color="red">كبير</font></font><font size="4"> (</font>Kebir<font size="4">)</font> | '''Great''' = <font size="6"><font color="red">كبير</font></font><font size="4"> (</font>Kebir<font size="4">)</font> | ||
''' | '''Greates''' = <font size="6"><font color="blue">أكبر</font></font><font size="4"> (</font>Akbar<font size="4">)</font> | ||
====Evidence==== | ====Evidence==== | ||
Kebir and akbar are not interchangeable words. For evidence, | Kebir and akbar are not interchangeable words. For evidence, one need only look to the Qur'an. Both kebir (great) and akbar (greater) are used in the following verse: | ||
{{Quote|{{Qtt|2|219}}|2= | {{Quote|{{Qtt|2|219}}|2= | ||
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====Lane's Lexicon and Other Sources==== | ====Lane's Lexicon and Other Sources==== | ||
Lane's Lexicon, the most | Lane's Lexicon, perhaps the most respected scholarly dictionary of the (classical) Arabic language in English, confirms the majority view is that "Allahu Akbar" refers to Allah being "greatest". Unlike in its early years, so does Wikipedia, stating the phrase literally means "God is greater". But is usually translated "God is [the] Greatest," or "God is Great".<ref>{{cite web |url= http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takbir|title= Takbir|publisher= Wikipedia|author= |date= accessed August 4, 2013|archiveurl= http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FTakbir&date=2013-08-04|deadurl=no}}</ref> Similarly, Pierre Tristam, the Lebanese-American About.com Guide states, although most often translated as "god is great," Allahu Akbar is Arabic for "god is greater," or "god is greatest."<ref>{{cite web|url= http://middleeast.about.com/od/a/g/allahu-akbar-definition.htm|title= Allahu Akbar|publisher= Middle East Issues (About.com)|author= Pierre Tristam|date= accessed August 4, 2013|archiveurl= http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fmiddleeast.about.com%2Fod%2Fa%2Fg%2Fallahu-akbar-definition.htm&date=2013-08-04|deadurl=no}}</ref> Many news sources and other web resources are now also beginning to use the more correct translation. | ||
====Used in Context by Muhammad==== | ====Used in Context by Muhammad==== | ||
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"Allahu Akbar" has been used historically by Muslims as a battle cry during war.<ref name="Ludwig W. Adamec">Ludwig W. Adamec, "Historical Dictionary of Islam", Scarecrow Press, 2<sup>nd</sup> ed. 2009, p. 32</ref> This precedent was set by Prophet [[Muhammad]] when he attacked the Jews of Khaibar. | "Allahu Akbar" has been used historically by Muslims as a battle cry during war.<ref name="Ludwig W. Adamec">Ludwig W. Adamec, "Historical Dictionary of Islam", Scarecrow Press, 2<sup>nd</sup> ed. 2009, p. 32</ref> This precedent was set by Prophet [[Muhammad]] when he attacked the Jews of Khaibar. | ||
In the following [[sahih]] [[hadith]], you can see the phrase | In the following [[sahih]] [[hadith]], you can see the phrase in this use: | ||
{{Quote|{{Bukhari|||2945|darussalam}}|Narrated Anas: | {{Quote|{{Bukhari|||2945|darussalam}}|Narrated Anas: | ||
The Prophet set out for Khaibar and reached it at night. He used not to attack if he reached the people at night, till the day broke. So, when the day dawned, the Jews came out with their bags and spades. When they saw the Prophet; they said, "Muhammad and his army!" '''The Prophet said, Allahu--Akbar! (Allah is Greater)''' and Khaibar is ruined, for whenever we approach a nation (i.e. enemy to fight) then it will be a miserable morning for those who have been warned."}} | The Prophet set out for Khaibar and reached it at night. He used not to attack if he reached the people at night, till the day broke. So, when the day dawned, the Jews came out with their bags and spades. When they saw the Prophet; they said, "Muhammad and his army!" '''The Prophet said, Allahu--Akbar! (Allah is Greater)''' and Khaibar is ruined, for whenever we approach a nation (i.e. enemy to fight) then it will be a miserable morning for those who have been warned."}} | ||
Here are a few more quotes which use the phrase "Allahu Akbar". | Here are a few more quotes which use the phrase "Allahu Akbar". | ||