Allahu Akbar (God is Greater): Difference between revisions

[[File:Malaysia Allah for Muslims only.jpg|thumb|right|250px]]The phrase '''Allahu Akbar''' (الله أكبر) is a common phrase used by Muslims in various situations, including the [[Salah]] (obligatory five [[prayers]] a day) and has even been used in the past by some [[non-Muslims]] as a show of support or in reference to the common Abrahamic god. It is widely conflated with the Muslims who shout it whilst engaged in [[Terrorism|Jihad]]. The literal translation of this phrase from [[Arabic]] means "God is greater!" The phrase has a unique history in [[Islam and Scripture|scripture]] and its early use and conception.

==='''Allah''' = <font size="6"><font color="red">الله</font> </font><font size="4">(</font>alif <font size="4">ا</font>, lam <font size="4">ل</font>, lam <font size="4">ل</font>, ha <font size="4">ه)</font>===

In another case in [[Malaysia]], the government banned Christians from using the word 'Allah' in reference to the Christian God,<ref>"[http://archive.compassdirect.org/en/display.php?page=news&lang=en&length=long&idelement=5183&backpage=archives&critere=&countryname=Malaysia&rowcur=0 Malaysia: Government Maintains Only Muslims Can Use ‘Allah’ Term]" - Compass Direct News, January 08, 2008</ref> and in one incident, reported by CNN in October of 2009, twenty-thousand Bibles were seized by authorities because they referred to the Christian God as 'Allah,'<ref>Saeed Ahmed - "[http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/10/29/malaysia.bibles.seized/ Bibles seized as Malaysia minorities fear fundamentalism]" - CNN, October 29, 2009</ref> completely disregarding the fact that due to the evolution of the Malay language, which has borrowed extensively from Arabic, Sanskrit and Portuguese, there is no indigenous Malay word for 'God' other than the pagan 'Allah'. It was reported that in 2010 a court ruling overturned the ban, a decision which the government has appealed against, insisting that it should remain in place.<ref name="Churches Attacked in Malaysian ‘Allah’ Dispute"></ref> This decision to allow Christians to use the word 'Allah' has led to violent protests and bombings of several Malaysian churches.<ref name="Churches Attacked in Malaysian ‘Allah’ Dispute"></ref> One of the protesters summed up the thoughts of many Malaysian Muslims, stating, “Allah is only for us, The Christians can use any word, we don’t care, but please don’t use the word Allah.”<ref name="Churches Attacked in Malaysian ‘Allah’ Dispute">{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/09/world/asia/09malaysia.html|title=Churches Attacked in Malaysian ‘Allah’ Dispute|publisher=The New York Times|last=Mydans|first=Seth|date=January 9, 2010}}</ref>

Lane's Lexicon, the most revered and scholarly dictionary of the Arabic language, confirms the majority view is that "Allahu Akbar" refers to Allah being "greater". 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 [[Lebanon|Lebanese]]-[[United States|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.

{{Hub4|Allah|Allah}}

 

{{Hub4|Islamic Terms|Islamic Terms}}