Allahu Akbar Meaning
Allah is the Greatest. The meaning, Arabic, when to say it, and its source in the Quran and Sunnah.
اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ
- Transliteration
- Allāhu akbar
- Meaning
- Allah is the Greatest
Allahu Akbar means “Allah is the Greatest”: greater than anything we can imagine or worry about. Saying it is called the takbīr.
When do Muslims say Allahu Akbar?
- To begin every prayer. The Prophet ﷺ said that the prayer is entered with the takbir (Jami at-Tirmidhi 3). It is repeated at each movement of the prayer.
- In the adhan, the call to prayer, which begins with it.
- After every prayer, 33 or 34 times, with SubhanAllah and Alhamdulillah (Sahih Muslim 597).
- On Eid and during the days of Dhul Hijjah, and when amazed or happy.
In the Quran
Allah tells the Prophet ﷺ to “glorify Him with great glorification” (wa kabbirhu takbīrā) (Quran 17:111).
Why “greatest” and not just “great”?
Akbar is the comparative form of kabīr (great): Allah is greater than everything else. That is why it is said at moments of awe, joy and hardship alike.
Quran and hadith references link to quran.com and sunnah.com, where you can read the full text. Reviewed 19 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Let us know.
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Frequently asked questions
What does Allahu Akbar mean?
Allahu Akbar means “Allah is the Greatest”. It is called the takbir.
How many times is Allahu Akbar said after prayer?
A well-known Sunnah is 33 SubhanAllah, 33 Alhamdulillah and 33 or 34 Allahu Akbar after each obligatory prayer (Sahih Muslim 597).