Akbar
- philhoraia
- Jul 1, 2022
- 1 min read
Muslims like their cry of "Allahu akbar!" but what does 'akbar' mean? It is the comparative of kabir 'big'. So, "Allah is bigger". A bigger idol than others? The word is found in S 6:78 And when he saw the sun rising he said: This is my lord. This is bigger. But when it set he said: People, I am innocent of what you associate.
The Hebrew word 'akhbar עכבר is often substituted for it jocosely, transliterated correctly or otherwise. This means 'mouse' in Modern Hebrew, although in Classical probably 'jerboa'.
Many, especially Muslims, will claim that their phrase means 'God is great'. For one thing, Allah doesn't mean 'god'; ilah does. The word for 'great' is 'azim عظيم. If the comparative akbar meant 'great', how might both have the same meaning?
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