The takbīr or takbeer (تَكْبِير) is the Arabic name for the phrase Allāhu Akbar, الله أكبر. Arabic (ar الْعَرَبيّة (informally ar عَرَبيْ) in terms of the number of speakers is the largest living member of the Semitic language Usually translated "God is great" or "God is [the] greatest," it is a common Arabic expression, used as both an informal expression of faith and as a formal declaration. In Islam, God is believed to be the only real supreme being all-powerful and all knowing Creator Sustainer Ordainer and Judge of the universe Islam puts a heavy emphasis In Islam, God is believed to be the only real supreme being all-powerful and all knowing Creator Sustainer Ordainer and Judge of the universe Islam puts a heavy emphasis

Definition and grammar

The form Allāhu is the nominative of Allah "[the one] God" The form akbar is the elative of the adjective kabīr "great". Allah ( Arabic: الله, ʔalˤːɑːh) is the standard Arabic word for ' In Islam, God is believed to be the only real supreme being all-powerful and all knowing Creator Sustainer Ordainer and Judge of the universe Islam puts a heavy emphasis In Semitic linguistics the elative is a stage of gradation in Arabic that can be used both for a global maximum (see Superlative) and for comparison (see In Semitic languages, an elative may indicate a superlative (best), or a comparative (better). The Semitic languages are a Language family whose living representatives are spoken by more than 467 million people across much of the Middle East, In Grammar the superlative of an Adjective or Adverb is the greatest form of adjective or adverb which indicates that something has some feature In Grammar, the comparative is the form of an Adjective or Adverb which denotes the degree or grade by which a person thing or other entity has a property The term takbīr (تَكْبِير) itself is the stem II verbal noun (tafʿīlun) of the triliteral root k-b-r "great". Arabic is a Semitic language See Arabic language for more information on the language in general In the terminology used to discuss the grammar of the Semitic languages and some other Afro-Asiatic languages, a triliteral ( Arabic: جذر ثلاثي Kaph (also spelled Kap or Kaf) is the eleventh letter of many Semitic abjads, including Phoenician, Aramaic, Hebrew Bet, Beth, or Vet is the second letter of many Semitic abjads, including Phoenician for the town in Nepal see Resh Nepal Resh is the twentieth letter of many Semitic alphabets, including Phoenician ^[1]

The word akbar as used in the takbir indicates the superlative, usually translated as "greatest". In Grammar the superlative of an Adjective or Adverb is the greatest form of adjective or adverb which indicates that something has some feature 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). Arabic (ar الْعَرَبيّة (informally ar عَرَبيْ) in terms of the number of speakers is the largest living member of the Semitic language In Grammar, the comparative is the form of an Adjective or Adverb which denotes the degree or grade by which a person thing or other entity has a property The translation as comparative does not apply to the case at hand, because no comparandum is present.

Usage

This phrase is recited by Muslims in numerous different situations. A Muslim (مسلم pronounced Muslim, not Muzlim) is an adherent of the Religion 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. Halal (حلال ḥalāl, halaal) is an Arabic term meaning permissible.

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. Adhan (also - Athaan IPA /ʔæðæːn/ ( أَذَان) is the Islamic call to Prayer, recited by the Muezzin. The word iqama (إقامة refers to the second call to Islamic Prayer, given immediately before the prayer begins

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 term Muslim world (or Islamic world) has several meanings Applause ( Latin applaudere to strike upon clap is primarily the expression of approval by the act of Clapping, or striking the palms of the hands together

Takbir on flags

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. The flag of Iraq ( علم العراق) has had five different designs since the Kingdom of Iraq was established in 1921 The current flag of Iran was adopted on July 29, 1980, and is a reflection of the changes brought to Iran by the Islamic Revolution The Shahada ( Arabic: ar الشهادة, from the verb ar شهد "to testify" is the Islamic Creed. Afghanistan /æfˈgænɪstæn/ officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan ( Pashto: د افغانستان اسلامي جمهوریت,

Current flag of Iraq with stylized Kufic script

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

Flag of the 1930s Waziristan resistance movement

See also

• Hallel
• Hallelujah
• List of Arabic phrases

Notes

1. ^ Some dictionary definitions of k-b-r derivatives include:
   • E. Hallel (הלל "Praise" is a Jewish prayer &mdasha verbatim recitation from Psalms 113-118 which is used for praise and thanksgiving that is recited Hallelujah, Halleluyah, or Alleluia, is a Transliteration of the Hebrew word he הַלְלוּיָהּ ( Standard The following list consists of Concepts that are derived from both Islamic and Arab tradition which are expressed as words in the Arabic language. Kaph (also spelled Kap or Kaf) is the eleventh letter of many Semitic abjads, including Phoenician, Aramaic, Hebrew Bet, Beth, or Vet is the second letter of many Semitic abjads, including Phoenician for the town in Nepal see Resh Nepal Resh is the twentieth letter of many Semitic alphabets, including Phoenician W. Lane, Arabic English Lexicon, 1893
     • kabīr: great in body, or corporeal substance, and in estimation or rank or dignity
     • akbar: greater, and greatest, in body, or corporeal substance, and in estimation or rank or dignity, and more, or most, advanced in age, older, and oldest
   • F. The Arabic-English Lexicon is an 19th-century Arabic dictionary compiled by the British Orientalist Edward William Lane. Steingass, 1970
     • kabīr: Great, large, bulky, immense, heavy, serious, senior, elder. . .
     • akbar: Greater, greatest.
   • R. Baalbaki, 1995
     • kabīr: Great, big, large, sizeable, bulky, huge, senior. . .
     • akbar: Greater, bigger, larger, major, senior, superior.

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.  
• AP (2006), written at Baghdad, “New beheading video aims to quash hopes for respite in Iraq violence”, USA Today (Arlington, Va. The Associated Press ( AP) is an American News agency. The AP is a Cooperative owned by its contributing Newspapers radio : Gannett), 2006-06-10, ISSN 0734-7456, OCLC 8799626, <http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2006-06-10-iraq-beheadings_x.htm>. An International Standard Serial Number ( ISSN) is a unique eight-digit number used to identify a print or electronic Periodical publication. The OCLC Online Computer Library Center is according to its website a "nonprofit membership computer library service and research organization dedicated to the public purpose Retrieved on 17 August 2007 .
• Fisher, Ian (2006-09-18), “Pope’s Regrets Over Statement Fail to Quiet a Storm of Protests”, New York Times (Rome), 2006-09-19, ISSN 0362-4331, <http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/19/world/europe/19pope.html?ei=5088&en=c56927eae2c42670&ex=1316318400&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&pagewanted=all>. For the English cricketer please see Ian Fisher Charles Ian Fisher (born 1965) is an American journalist who is a deputy An International Standard Serial Number ( ISSN) is a unique eight-digit number used to identify a print or electronic Periodical publication. Retrieved on 25 August 2007 .

External links

• Slate.com essay on takbir
• Audio clip (Real Audio)