Allahu akbar: Allah is greater

Allahu akbar is the phrase you will say most often as a Muslim. It opens every prayer, it rings out in the call to prayer, and it belongs in ordinary moments of daily life too. In this lesson you will learn what it really means and where you will use it.

What it really means

It is often translated as "God is great". That is true, but it misses something. Kabir means great. Akbar is the stronger form: greater, or greatest. So Allahu akbar means Allah is greater, greater than anything you could compare Him with.

Scholars explain it this way: "He is more Sublime, Greater, and more Powerful than everything." When you say it, whatever is in front of you finds its proper size. A worry, a deadline, a fear, even a joy: Allah is greater than all of it.

You may have heard this phrase mostly in news reports. For Muslims it is first of all a phrase of worship, said calmly many times in every prayer. Allah says to the Prophet in the Quran:

And your Lord glorify

Quran 74:3 (Saheeh International translation)

The Arabic word for glorify here, kabbir, comes from the same root as akbar: proclaim that your Lord is greater.

In the call to prayer

The call to prayer (adhan) begins with Allahu akbar and returns to it near the end. The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, taught that when you hear the caller (muezzin) say Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar, you say it after him (Sahih Muslim 385).

In every prayer

Your prayer begins with Allahu akbar. The Prophet's wife Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said that he "used to start the prayer with the Takbīr" (Sahih Muslim 498). Takbir means saying Allahu akbar. The companion Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) described how the Prophet said it again and again as he moved through the prayer (Sahih al-Bukhari 789 and Sahih Muslim 392):

• When he stood to begin the prayer

• When he bowed

• When he went down into prostration

• When he raised his head from prostration

• When he stood up after sitting at the end of two units (rak'ahs)

So you will say it many times in each prayer. You do not need to memorize every position today. Your prayer lessons will walk you through them step by step.

In daily life

Going uphill. The companions said Allahu akbar when they went up and Subhan Allah when they came down (Sahih al-Bukhari 2993). A man about to travel asked the Prophet for advice, and he said:

Fear Allah and say 'Allah is the Greatest' upon every elevated place.

Sunan al-Tirmidhi 3445 (hasan)

After prayer. Say it 33 times, alongside Subhan Allah and Alhamdulillah (Sahih Muslim 597).

Any time at all. The Prophet named four phrases as the most beloved speech to Allah: Subhan Allah, Alhamdulillah, La ilaha illallah (there is no god but Allah), and Allahu akbar, and he said it does not matter which one you start with (Sahih Muslim 2137).

Next, you will learn Ma sha Allah, how to pray for blessing, and the Muslim greeting of peace.