A thought - Systemic abuse of allahu akbar

i strugle to find correlation which this phrase as a choice for some for using to magnify God in relation to surah 17:110-111

for some time now i have been thinking about this phrase that so many people use in prayer to God.

Allahu Akbar.
translation - God is the Greatest.. or God is Greater

it is used as a call to prayer,

it is used to magnify God

it is used as a celebratory cry of praise.


now adays, with all the troubles in the world - i wonder and i have been wondering for some time now that this phrase Allahu akbar is abused by many.

i guess it is used to justify any act by the perpertrator, not knowing if it is right or wrong.

you find the terrorists who shout allahu akbar - when in my view that is - the unjustly blow up buildings and kill innocent people.

you find those oppressed shouting allahu akbar when they are trying to rid themselves of opression and at the same time - in my view - agress against their limits of ridding opression.

you find the hypocrites - i too may be one of them - shouting allahu akbar when in congrregation with others, i feel they dont even think clearly about the word and the connotation behind it.


i cannot find in the Quran where is says Allahu akbar as a word together - i may not be looking correctly - except in 29:45 - in
"wa la zikru llahi akbar"... towards the end of the verse and whose rough
translation can be as - rememberance of God


so where did we get this phrase from?

in relation to a call for prayer - i guess it is from verse 17:111 - where the last part of that verse is
" wa kabiru takbiran"
translated roughly as and magnify him greatly

from history - i remember something about the first person to call to prayer being the slave bilal - i dont know if this is right or wrong though - going by the many hadiths which are baseless and cannot be verified.

but given that the worship of God is not a new thing - ~Salat is not a new thing but was prescribed by God as a way of attaining salvation which started from Abraham passed down the prophets and messengers - then i guess - how accurate is this?

Quran - 17:111
Khalifa
And proclaim: "Praise be to GOD, who has never begotten a son, nor does He have a partner in His kingship, nor does He need any ally out of weakness," and magnify Him constantly.
Yusuf Ali
Say: "Praise be to God, who begets no son, and has no partner in (His) dominion: Nor (needs) He any to protect Him from humiliation: yea, magnify Him for His greatness and glory!"
Pickthal
And say: Praise be to Allah, Who hath not taken unto Himself a son, and Who hath no partner in the Sovereignty, nor hath He any protecting friend through dependence. And magnify Him with all magnificence.
Shakir
And say: (All) praise is due to Allah, Who has not taken a son and Who has not a partner in the kingdom, and Who has not a helper to save Him from disgrace; and proclaim His greatness magnifying (Him).
Sher Ali
And say, `All praise belongs to Allah who has taken unto Himself no son, and who has no partner in HIS kingdom, nor has HE anyone to help HIM because of any weakness of HIS.' And proclaim HIS greatness, glorifying HIM.
"Progressive Muslims"
And say: "Praise be to God who Has not taken a son, nor does He have a partner in sovereignty, nor does He have an ally out of weakness." And glorify Him greatly.
Reformist translation
Say, "Praise is to God, who has not taken a son, nor does He have a partner in sovereignty, nor does He have an ally out of weakness." Glorify Him

Quran - 29:45

Khalifa
You shall recite what is revealed to you of the scripture, and observe the Contact Prayers (Salat), for the Contact Prayers prohibit evil and vice. But the remembrance of GOD (through Salat) is the most important objective. GOD knows everything you do.
Yusuf Ali
Recite what is sent of the Book by inspiration to thee, and establish regular Prayer: for Prayer restrains from shameful and unjust deeds; and remembrance of God is the greatest (thing in life) without doubt. And God knows the (deeds) that ye do.
Pickthal
Recite that which hath been inspired in thee of the Scripture, and establish worship. Lo! worship preserveth from lewdness and iniquity, but verily remembrance of Allah is more important. And Allah knoweth what ye do.
Shakir
Recite that which has been revealed to you of the Book and keep up prayer; surely prayer keeps (one) away from indecency and evil, and certainly the remembrance of Allah is the greatest, and Allah knows what you do.
Sher Ali
Recite that which has been revealed of the Book and observe Prayer. Surely, Prayer restrains one from indecency and manifest evil; and the remembrance of Allah is the greatest virtue. And Allah knows what you do.

"Progressive Muslims"
Recite what is inspired to you of the Scripture, and hold the assembly; for the assembly prohibits evil and vice, and the remembrance of God is the greatest. God knows everything you do.

"Reformist Translation"
Recite what is inspired to you of the book, and hold the contact prayer; for the contact prayer prohibits evil and vice,and the remembrance of God is the greatest. God knows everything you do.*

not that it matters at all - but i am thinking of this for some time... the way i remember the verse 17:110 - call him God or Call him Ar-Rahman, to God belings the most beautiful names...

May God guide us to his path, and save us from the retribution of the hell fire.

to God belongs the best of all praise.