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 تَكۡبِيرَۢا你说：“一切赞颂，全归安拉！他没有收养儿女，没有同他共享国权的，没有为免卑贱而设的辅助者。你应当赞颂他的尊大。”
常见问题
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.
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