Takbir

"Allahu Akbar" and "Allah akbar" redirect here. For the former national anthem of Libya, see Allahu Akbar (anthem). For other uses, see Allahu Akbar (disambiguation).
Not to be confused with Takfir.
Takbir
Arabic‏تَكْبِير‎
Romanizationtakbīr
IPAArabic pronunciation: [tak.biːr]
Literal meaning"magnification [of God]"
Allahu Akbar
Arabic‏اَللَّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ‎
RomanizationAllāhu ʾakbar
IPA[ʔaɫ.ɫaː.hu ʔak.bar] ⓘ
Literal meaning"Allah is greater [than everything]"

The takbīr (Arabic: تَكْبِير, pronounced [tak.biːr], lit. 'magnification [of God]') is the name for the Arabic phrase Allāhu ʾakbar (Arabic: اَللَّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ, pronounced [ʔaɫ.ɫaː.hu ʔak.bar] ⓘ, lit. 'Allah is greater than everything').[1][2][3][4]

It is a common Arabic expression, used in various contexts by Muslims and Arabs around the world: in formal Salah (prayer),[4] in the Adhan (Islamic call to prayer),[5] in Hajj, as an informal expression of faith, in times of distress or joy, or to express resolute determination or defiance. The phrase is the official motto of Iran and Iraq. It is also used by Orthodox Arab Christians as an expression of faith.[6]

  1. ^ Wensinck, A.J., "Takbīr", in: Encyclopaedia of Islam, Second Edition, Edited by: P. Bearman, Th. Bianquis, C.E. Bosworth, E. van Donzel, W.P. Heinrichs. Consulted online on 09 September 2023 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/1573-3912_islam_SIM_7330> First published online: 2012
  2. ^ "Takbīr". The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Islamic World. Oxford University Press. 2009. ISBN 978-0-19-530513-5.
  3. ^ "Takbīr". Encyclopedia.com. 22 Aug 2023. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
  4. ^ a b "The Times of the Five Daily Prayers". Retrieved 23 August 2015.
  5. ^ Nigosian, S. A. (2004). Islam: Its History, Teaching, and Practices. Indiana: Indiana University Press. p. 102. ISBN 0-253-21627-3.
  6. ^ Emma Bennett, What does Allahu Akbar mean?, The Telegraph (UK), 12 June 2016.