Editing Takbir (section)

==Other social usage==
[[File:God is the Greatest-Arabic-Desouk.jpg|thumbnail|''Allāhu akbar'' in a memorial, [[Desouk]], [[Egypt]]]]
[[File:Imam Ali Shrine - 1994.jpg|thumbnail|''Allāhu akbar'' in Arabic calligraphy seen on [[Imam Ali Shrine|Imam Ali Mosque]] architecture (center of the Iwan), 1994]]
[[File:Roads_in_iran.jpg|thumbnail|A sign with ''Allāhu akbar'' written on the side of a road in Iran]]
The expression ''{{transliteration|ar|DIN|Allāhu ʾakbar}}'' can be used in a variety of situations, from celebrations to times of grief.

In a historical account by someone who was present both at the birth of the ruler [[Abd Allah ibn al-Zubayr]] (7th century) and at his funeral, the author observes that ''{{transliteration|ar|DIN|Allāhu ʾakbar}}'' was said on both occasions.<ref name=suleiman/>

===In times of joy and gratitude===
The ''{{transliteration|ar|DIN|takbīr}}'' can be used to express joy or surprise. It is also used as applause in religious contexts, such as after a Quran recital, as other forms of applause are considered less appropriate.<ref name=venice>{{cite web|title=Allahu akbar: What is the Takbir?|date=25 August 2017|url=https://www.theweek.co.uk/88011/allahu-akbar-what-is-the-takbir|publisher=[[The Week]]|access-date=8 January 2025|archive-date=19 July 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230719163313/https://www.theweek.co.uk/88011/allahu-akbar-what-is-the-takbir|url-status=live}}</ref>

It is used to celebrate an election win.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.news18.com/world/mothin-ali-british-councillor-green-party-who-shouted-allahu-akbar-after-being-elected-in-local-polls-8878969.html | title=Who is Mothin Ali? British Councillor Who Shouted 'Allahu Akbar' After Being Elected in Local Polls | date=6 May 2024 | access-date=16 May 2024 | archive-date=16 May 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240516093405/https://www.news18.com/world/mothin-ali-british-councillor-green-party-who-shouted-allahu-akbar-after-being-elected-in-local-polls-8878969.html | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/05/18/copy-of-most-voters-think-allahu-akbar-inappropriate-politicians/ | title=Most voters think shouting 'Allahu Akbar' is inappropriate for politicians | newspaper=The Telegraph | date=18 May 2024 | last1=Hazell | first1=Will }}</ref>
As a multi-purpose phrase, it is sometimes used by Arab football commentators as an expression of amazement, or even as a [[football chant]].<ref name=nyt/>

===In battle===
Historically, the ''{{transliteration|ar|DIN|takbīr}}'' has been used as a cry of victory during battle.<ref>Ludwig W. Adamec, Historical Dictionary of Islam, Scarecrow Press, 2nd ed. 2009, pg. 32</ref> [[Ibn Ishaq]]'s 8th century ''Life of Muhammed'' narrates two occasions when [[Muhammad]] proclaimed the ''{{transliteration|ar|DIN|takbīr}}'' during battle.<ref>Life of Mohammed [سيرة رسول الله] by Ibn Ishaq, translated by Alfred Guillaume, Oxford University Press, 1955, 17th printing, Karachi, 2004 https://archive.org/details/TheLifeOfMohammedGuillaume</ref>

===Iran===
During the [[Iranian Revolution]] of 1979, it was shouted from rooftops in Iran during the evenings as a form of protest. The ''{{transliteration|ar|DIN|takbīr}}'' was later adopted as the official motto of Iran.<ref>[[Constitution of Iran]], Article 18</ref> This practice returned in the [[2009 Iranian presidential election protests]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090614/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_iran_election |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090617072238/http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090614/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_iran_election|url-status=dead |title=Yahoo News|archivedate=June 17, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WU-cxEEJ-E | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211110/9WU-cxEEJ-E| archive-date=2021-11-10 | url-status=live|title=YouTube |publisher=YouTube |date=June 9, 2009 |access-date=May 8, 2011}}{{cbignore}}</ref> which protested the election results.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8386335.stm|title=How Iran's opposition inverts old slogans|date=December 7, 2009|work=BBC News|access-date=December 21, 2009|archive-date=January 2, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100102053922/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8386335.stm|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Usage by extremists and terrorists===
{{See also|Islamic terrorism}}
The phrase has been used as a battle cry by [[Islamic extremism|Islamic extremists]] and [[Islamic terrorism|terrorists]].<ref name="Chap1">{{cite book |chapter='We Have Some Planes' |url=http://govinfo.library.unt.edu/911/report/911Report_Ch1.htm |year=2004 |title=9/11 Commission Report |publisher=National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States |access-date=May 30, 2008 |archive-date=May 14, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080514052417/http://govinfo.library.unt.edu/911/report/911Report_Ch1.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> However, this usage has been denounced by other Muslims.<ref name=suleiman>{{cite news|title=What 'Allahu Akbar' really means|url=https://www.cnn.com/2017/11/01/opinions/allahu-akbar-meaning/index.html|author=[[Omar Suleiman (imam)|Omar Suleiman]]|publisher=[[CNN]]|archive-date=2020-07-27|access-date=2020-08-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727141624/https://www.cnn.com/2017/11/01/opinions/allahu-akbar-meaning/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="nyt">{{Cite news |last=Nagourney |first=Eric |date=2017-11-02 |title='Allahu Akbar': An Everyday Phrase, Tarnished by Attacks |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/02/world/americas/allahu-akbar-terrorism.html |access-date=2023-01-10 |archive-date=2021-11-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211112122355/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/02/world/americas/allahu-akbar-terrorism.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Professor [[Khaled A. Beydoun]], author of ''The New Crusades: Islamophobia and the Global War on Muslims'' (2023),<ref>{{cite book | isbn=978-0520356306 | title=The New Crusades: Islamophobia and the Global War on Muslims | last1=Beydoun | first1=Khaled A. | date=21 March 2023 | publisher=Univ of California Press }}</ref> writes that the association of the phrase "Allah Akbar" with terrorism has been exacerbated by mass media and television pundits. He adds that films and shows also utilize it as a cinematic [[Trope (cinema)|trope]] further cementing the association.<ref name=beydoun>{{cite news|title=The perils of saying 'Allahu Akbar' in public|author=Khaled Beydoun|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/global-opinions/wp/2018/08/25/the-perils-of-saying-allahu-akbar-in-public/|newspaper=[[Washington Post]]|archive-date=2020-12-04|access-date=2020-08-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201204174705/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/global-opinions/wp/2018/08/25/the-perils-of-saying-allahu-akbar-in-public/|url-status=live}}</ref>

===In politics===
In India, [[Asaduddin Owaisi]], president of the [[All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen|AIMIM]] and [[Abu Taher Khan]], representing [[Trinamool Congress|TMC]], after being elected as [[Member of Parliament (India)|members of the Indian Parliament]], ended their oath with the slogan of "Allahu Akbar".<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 June 2019 |title='Jai Shri Ram', 'Allahu Akbar': Religious slogans mark swearing in ceremony of 17th LS |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/archive/nation/-jai-shri-ram-allahu-akbar-religious-slogans-mark-swearing-in-ceremony-of-17th-ls-789685 |website=Tribune India |access-date=18 April 2023 |archive-date=20 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230720000112/https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/archive/nation/-jai-shri-ram-allahu-akbar-religious-slogans-mark-swearing-in-ceremony-of-17th-ls-789685 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Usage by Christians ===
The phrase (Allah; meaning God in English) is only used by [[Arab Christians]] in third person view, and is rarely mentioned during prayers or church service.{{citation needed | reason = also clarify denomination and nationality, this is likely a different sect to Palestinian? |date=April 2025}} The [[Palestinian Christians]] use Allah in their prayer to refer to the creator of the world, and the takbir as an expression of their faith. The use of takbir has been defended by [[Theodosios Hanna]], the Palestinian Orthodox [[Archbishop]] of [[Sebastia, Nablus|Sebastia]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tiessen |first=Terrance |title=We Palestinian Christians say Allahu Akbar |url=https://www.thoughtstheological.com/we-palestinian-christians-say-allahu-akbar/ |access-date=2021-02-20 |website=Thoughts Theological |language=en-US}}</ref>