Editing Takbir (section)

===Iraq===
The phrase ''Allāhu akbar'' is written on the center of the [[flag of Iraq]].

During the [[Gulf War]] in January 1991, [[Saddam Hussein]] held a meeting with top military commanders, where it was decided to add the words ''Allāhu akbar'' (described as the Islamic [[battle cry]])<ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=37gTAAAAIBAJ&pg=5117,3700016&dq=flag+iraq+islamist+allahu-akbar&hl=en |title=New Straits Times |date=January 15, 1991 |access-date=May 8, 2011 }}{{Dead link|date=January 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> to Iraq's flag to boost his secular regime's religious credentials, casting himself as the leader of an Islamic army.<ref name="usat">{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2004-04-26-iraq-flag_x.htm|title=U.S.-picked Iraq leaders approve new flag|date=April 26, 2004 |work=USA Today|access-date=February 9, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Deroy Murdock |url=http://article.nationalreview.com/268429/the-911-connection/deroy-murdock |title=Murdock, Deroy, "The 9/11 Connection," April 3, 2003 |work=The National Review |access-date=May 8, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100617021913/http://article.nationalreview.com/268429/the-911-connection/deroy-murdock |archive-date=June 17, 2010 }}</ref>  Hussein described the flag as "the banner of jihad and monotheism".<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0OkasRnU4K0C&q=flag+%22allahu+akbar%22&pg=PA138 |title=Saddam's war of words: politics, religion, and the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait |access-date=February 19, 2014 |isbn=978-0-292-70264-6 |last1=Long |first1=Jerry M. |date=April 2004 |publisher=University of Texas Press }}</ref>

In 2004, the US-picked [[Iraqi Governing Council]] approved a new flag for Iraq that abandoned symbols of Hussein's regime, such as the words ''Allāhu akbar''.<ref name="usat"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/FE26Ak05.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040528171025/http://atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/FE26Ak05.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 28, 2004 |last=Rosen |first=Nir |title=Iraq's religious tide cannot be turned back |work=Asia Times |date=May 26, 2004 |access-date=May 8, 2011}}</ref> In January 2008, however, Iraq's [[Council of Representatives of Iraq|parliament]] passed a law to change the flag by leaving in the phrase, but changing the [[calligraphy]] of the words ''Allāhu akbar'', which had been a copy of Hussein's handwriting, to a [[Kufic]] script.<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2008Jan22/0,4670,IraqFlagDispute,00.html Abdul-Zahra, Qassim, "Iraqi Lawmakers Vote to Change Flag,"] ''[[USA Today]]'', January 22, 2008, accessed February 9, 2010  {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305202752/http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2008Jan22/0%2C4670%2CIraqFlagDispute%2C00.html |date=March 5, 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Abdul |first=Qassim |url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/topstories/2008-02-05-1386576333_x.htm |title=Abdul-Zahra, Qassim, "Iraq unveils flag without Saddam's stars" |work=USA Today|date=February 5, 2008 |access-date=May 8, 2011}}</ref> The Iraqi flag under Hussein had each of the two words of the phrase written in one of the spaces between the stars on the central band; the flag adopted in 2008 decided to leave the phrase in, removes the stars.