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Many apologists for Islam claim that Allahu Akbar simply means "God is great!." Sure, this phrase has become associated with the "radical" (fundamental) Muslims who shout it while they are engaged in "Jihad" - usually the murder of non-Muslims. Peaceful Muslims also use this phrase, but state that it's just the Arabic for a common English phrase. Some non-Muslims even use it, especially in light of the current crisis in Iran - to show solidarity and support with the protesting Iranians.
However, it doesn't actually mean "God is great!" as claimed. It means "Allah is greater." Greater than what? The fact that it's a 'war cry' for the Jihadi's should give you a clue to this - Allah is "greater" than whatever god you happen to believe in.. This is why I believe it is not suitable for non-Muslims to use this expression, or even to refer to God as "Allah" - as this is the NAME of the Islamic deity.
Arabic (Allahu Akbar): الله أكبر
Why do Muslims say Allah means "god"?
Allah is the name of Islam's deity, even though in Muslim culture & society, it is used interchangeably with 'god' because most people are Muslims; and to them, Allah IS god. So to make the distinction is redundant. It's kind of like in America when you say 'god' , most people think you are talking about Jesus, because Christianity is the dominant religon.
Allah & god
god in Arabic is 'ilah'
Allah =الله (alif ا, lam ل, lam ل, ha ه)
ilah = اله (alif ا, lam ل, ha ه)
You can see they are not the same word even in the Shahada, even though many English speaking Muslims falsely claim the Shahada states "there is no god but God.:
أشهد أنلا إله إلاَّ الله Ùˆ أشهد أنمØÂمد رسول الله
aÅ¡hadu ʾanla ilÄÂha illal-LÄÂh, wa ʾaÅ¡hadu ʾanna muḥammadan rasÅ«lul-LÄÂh
There is no god but Allah and Muhammad is the messenger of Allah.
Allah is the NAME of Islam's deity - at the start of almost every Surah (Chapter) of the Quran is the phrase (in part): "In the name of Allah...."
Great & Greater
كبير (kebir) means "great" but أكبر (Akbar) means "greater." They are not interchangeable words. For evidence, we only need to look at the Quran:
Both kebir & Akbar are used in this verse (both highlighted in red in the source link) - kebir means 'great' and Akbar mean 'greater.'
Therefore, Allahu Akbar means "Allah (name) is greater."
However, it doesn't actually mean "God is great!" as claimed. It means "Allah is greater." Greater than what? The fact that it's a 'war cry' for the Jihadi's should give you a clue to this - Allah is "greater" than whatever god you happen to believe in.. This is why I believe it is not suitable for non-Muslims to use this expression, or even to refer to God as "Allah" - as this is the NAME of the Islamic deity.
Arabic (Allahu Akbar): الله أكبر
Why do Muslims say Allah means "god"?
Allah is the name of Islam's deity, even though in Muslim culture & society, it is used interchangeably with 'god' because most people are Muslims; and to them, Allah IS god. So to make the distinction is redundant. It's kind of like in America when you say 'god' , most people think you are talking about Jesus, because Christianity is the dominant religon.
Allah & god
god in Arabic is 'ilah'
Allah =الله (alif ا, lam ل, lam ل, ha ه)
ilah = اله (alif ا, lam ل, ha ه)
You can see they are not the same word even in the Shahada, even though many English speaking Muslims falsely claim the Shahada states "there is no god but God.:
أشهد أنلا إله إلاَّ الله Ùˆ أشهد أنمØÂمد رسول الله
aÅ¡hadu ʾanla ilÄÂha illal-LÄÂh, wa ʾaÅ¡hadu ʾanna muḥammadan rasÅ«lul-LÄÂh
There is no god but Allah and Muhammad is the messenger of Allah.
Allah is the NAME of Islam's deity - at the start of almost every Surah (Chapter) of the Quran is the phrase (in part): "In the name of Allah...."
Great & Greater
كبير (kebir) means "great" but أكبر (Akbar) means "greater." They are not interchangeable words. For evidence, we only need to look at the Quran:
Quran 2:219 said:يسالونك عنالخمر والميسر قل ÙÂيها اثم كبير ومناÙÂع للناس واثمهما اكبر مننÙÂعهما ويسالونك ماذا ينÙÂقونقل العÙÂÙˆ كذلك يبينالله لكم الايات لعÙâžÃ™Æ’Ù… تتÙÂكروÙâ€
Yas-aloonaka AAani alkhamri waalmaysiriqul feehima ithmun kabeerun wamanafiAAu lilnnasiwa-ithmuhuma akbaru min nafAAihima wayas-aloonaka mathayunfiqoona quli alAAafwa kathalika yubayyinu Allahulakumu al-ayati laAAallakum tatafakkaroona
They ask thee concerning wine and gambling. Say: "In them is great sin, and some profit, for men; but the sin is greater than the profit." They ask thee how much they are to spend; Say: "What is beyond your needs." Thus doth Allah Make clear to you His Signs: In order that ye may consider-
Quran Root Browser k-b-r ك ب ر
Both kebir & Akbar are used in this verse (both highlighted in red in the source link) - kebir means 'great' and Akbar mean 'greater.'
Therefore, Allahu Akbar means "Allah (name) is greater."