Allahu Akbar

British

/ ˈæləˌhu ˈakˌbaː /

interjection

Islam an exclamation used in the call to prayer and also used as a call to the defence of Muslims, an expression of approval, and a funeral litany

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of Allahu Akbar

from Arabic, literally: God is most great

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Allahu Akbar means God is great – the Muslim equivalent of hallelujah.

From BBC • Aug. 7, 2024

Videos from Makhachkala airport obtained by Reuters showed the protesters, mostly young men, waving Palestinian flags, breaking down glass doors and running through the airport shouting "Allahu Akbar" or "God is Greatest".

From Reuters • Oct. 30, 2023

In a statement on Facebook, the Islamic Cultural Center of Fresno condemned the attack, saying: "The phrase Allahu Akbar, or God is Great, is a prayer of peace for 1.8 billion Muslims around the world."

From BBC • Apr. 18, 2017

In one video, men, some of them armed, were shown standing near the wreckage taking cellphone photos, some cheering and shouting "Allahu Akbar," or God is great in Arabic.

From New York Times • Aug. 1, 2016

He would not say Allahu Akbar because his accent would give him away.

From "Half of a Yellow Sun" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023