InSemitic linguistics, the elative (اِسْمُ تَفْضِيلٍ‎) - noun of preference - is a stage of gradation in Arabic that can be used both for a comparative or superlative in Arabic. Thus, it denotes greater or greatest. Why is the translation ambiguous? Contraryto what many people seem to think, the words "Allahu Akbar" simply mean "God is greater." It is a powerful declaration used by Muslims on many occasions and in many prayers. It is a celebration of life, the first words fathers whisper in the ears of their newborns. Allahuakbar is a phrase said by Muslims in prayers and greetings, but has also been yelled by terrorists. Scott Simon speaks with playwright Wajahat Ali about his op-ed, "I Want 'Allahu Itis not permissible for him to do that deliberately; rather what the worshipper must do is pray as the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) did. So he should say "Allahu akbar" when appropriate and "Sami'a Allahu liman hamidah" when appropriate, and "Rabbana wa laka al-hamd (Our Lord to You be praise)" when RC8kF.

what happens if you say allahu akbar