The phrase and its pronunciation
اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُAllāhu akbar
God is the Greatest
Meaning
Greater and more exalted than all else, so nothing is to be revered above God.
When to say it
- In the call to prayer and throughout the prayer.
- In the Eids and the days of Tashriq.
- In joy, wonder or fear.
How to reply
No special reply; those hearing the call repeat after the muezzin.
The evidence
وَقُلِ ٱلۡحَمۡدُ لِلَّهِ ٱلَّذِي لَمۡ يَتَّخِذۡ وَلَدٗا وَلَمۡ يَكُن لَّهُۥ شَرِيكٞ فِي ٱلۡمُلۡكِ وَلَمۡ يَكُن لَّهُۥ وَلِيّٞ مِّنَ ٱلذُّلِّۖ وَكَبِّرۡهُ تَكۡبِيرَۢاDis : « Louange à Allah qui ne s’est pas donné d’enfant, dont la souveraineté est absolue, nul n’étant associé à Sa royauté, et qui est trop puissant pour avoir besoin d’un protecteur. » Et célèbre hautement Sa grandeur.
Questions fréquentes
Is “Allahu Akbar” a call to violence?
No. It opens the call to prayer and the prayer itself, said by millions daily in worship; its misuse by criminals does not change its meaning.
Les textes et traductions sont en cours de révision par des savants.