# "Allahu Akbar" **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 14, 2015, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/allahu-akbar/737589 "2015-11-14T20:12:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Ramira](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ramira/32/344_2.png) [@Ramira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ramira)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2015, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/allahu-akbar/737589/61 "2015-11-15T11:53:22Z")
> [@Gary\_Kumquat](#): > > Nah, you got absolutely humped in that thread. it is a sort of guilty amusement to watch that and now this. > [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > Or it would be if one were honest. No, we can assure you your perception is not well founded. but it is doubtful it will change. ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2015, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/allahu-akbar/737589/62 "2015-11-15T13:33:03Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Less than a week ago, we had a thread about a Christian who was calling for gays to be executed. Should every Christian be condemned because of this? The one’s who agreed with him should. And if that percentage is high enough, then Christianity has a serious problem to deal with. Fortunately that hasn’t happened yet in Christianity. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2015, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/allahu-akbar/737589/63 "2015-11-15T13:48:11Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > Nah. There are a lot of people who want to believe that, even desperately so. So much so in fact that they may have fooled themselves into actually believing it. > > But when you start or participate in a thread where you’re making all sorts of outlandish accusations about a certain person and a poster comes along, and, bit by bit as the evidence comes out, show you to have been wrong on virtually every one of them, it’s hard to argue that poster lost the thread. That may be true, but we’re referring to the thread in which you repeatedly showed yourself to be an utter fool by inventing outlandish scenarios to defend a serial pedophile rapist and making excuses for the inaction of his now disgraced boss, a man you admire because of football. Remember now? ---
**Author:** ![choie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/choie/32/7829_2.png) [@choie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/choie)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2015, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/allahu-akbar/737589/64 "2015-11-15T13:50:54Z")
I wonder if the OP and other Islamophobes are aware that most of the people ISIS has murdered _are_ Muslim? ---
**Author:** ![Svejk\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea666f/32.png) [@Svejk\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Svejk_1)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2015, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/allahu-akbar/737589/65 "2015-11-15T13:54:29Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > So clever and sophisticated! > > No doubt when you first heard about the terror attacks in Paris, you thought, “It’s gotta be those Lutheran maniacs!” No you miserable sack of shit. My first thought was “holy fuck that’s awful news, I hope everyone I know there is okay”. Worthless creature. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2015, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/allahu-akbar/737589/66 "2015-11-15T13:58:27Z")
Huh. I thought Allahu Akbar was the name of a basketball player. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2015, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/allahu-akbar/737589/67 "2015-11-15T14:12:17Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > That may be true, but we’re referring to the thread in which you repeatedly showed yourself to be an utter fool by inventing outlandish scenarios to defend a serial pedophile rapist and making excuses for the inaction of his now disgraced boss, a man you admire because of football. Remember now? Same thread, douchebag. But rather than show you to be the lying asspipe you are in this thread I’ll simply reiterate what I said before: > [@](#): > > “I’m not going to re-argue the thread here but I’ll be happy to re-visit it in the appropriate thread should anyone really want to have a go at it again.” ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2015, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/allahu-akbar/737589/68 "2015-11-15T14:44:41Z")
So, can someone give examples of how “Allahu Akbar” is used in common speech. I assume “I’m about to crash this airplane” is not its most common meaning, even if that’s mostly how I’ve seen it used. Would one say it upon hiring a thumb with a hammer? When turning a corner and suddenly seeing a stunning sunset? During sex? When the doctor tells you your cancer is terminal? If you aced that exam you thought was hard? Serious question. ---
**Author:** ![Ramira](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ramira/32/344_2.png) [@Ramira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ramira)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2015, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/allahu-akbar/737589/69 "2015-11-15T14:52:13Z")
If you asking about by the Arabic speakers, it is a more or less common interjection, although I would say La ilah ila Allah or Wallahi is more common. Perhaps closest is like how Americans say Jesus Christ… even when they are not strong believers or believers at all. I perhaps say some variation in the same fashion. Without thinking really. It is not something I notice except when in a western context then I try to pay attention as the wrong impression is taken. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2015, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/allahu-akbar/737589/70 "2015-11-15T14:57:16Z")
Thanks. So, if the boss says something incredibly stupid at a presentation? I’m really interested in examples, because that’s how I learn language use. (And yes, Arabic speakers.) ---
**Author:** ![Ramira](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ramira/32/344_2.png) [@Ramira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ramira)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2015, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/allahu-akbar/737589/71 "2015-11-15T15:08:35Z")
Let me just give these [two](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takbir) [sources](http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/explainer/2006/09/god_is_still_great.html), but I can not think of saying it just over a presentation. Maybe I have, it is not something one notices for me, like saying inchallah. ---
**Author:** ![Ramira](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ramira/32/344_2.png) [@Ramira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ramira)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2015, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/allahu-akbar/737589/72 "2015-11-15T15:22:15Z")
Also example from the much fetishized in american circles [Kurds,](http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/15/world/middleeast/kurds-in-iraq-face-fast-and-erratic-threat-in-isis-suicide-drivers.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=first-column-region®ion=top-news&WT.nav=top-news) > [@](#): > > “God is great! God is great! ” a fighter yelled over and over, fear emanating from his prayers. “There is no god but God and Muhammad is his prophet!” This about the usage of the DAESH of the suicide bombers. I hope the French and the Germans can get to the Kurds more of the Milan AT missiles. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2015, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/allahu-akbar/737589/73 "2015-11-15T15:22:55Z")
Thanks! That’s exactly what I was looking for. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2015, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/allahu-akbar/737589/74 "2015-11-15T17:12:55Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > Nah. There are a lot of people who want to believe that, even desperately so. So much so in fact that they may have fooled themselves into actually believing it…Or it would be if one were honest. General Jubilation T. Cornpone, commanded the armies at Cornpone’s Defeat, Cornpone’s Rout, and Cornpone’s Utter Humiliation. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2015, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/allahu-akbar/737589/75 "2015-11-15T17:24:01Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > General Jubilation T. Cornpone, commanded the armies at Cornpone’s Defeat, Cornpone’s Rout, and Cornpone’s Utter Humiliation. Nonsense. General Cornpone was a good and decent man. **Starving Artist** is a delusional, sick, pustulent, and rabid piece of scum. ---
**Author:** ![FloatyGimpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/floatygimpy/32/7750_2.png) [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2015, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/allahu-akbar/737589/76 "2015-11-15T17:39:09Z")
> [@choie](#): > > I wonder if the OP and other Islamophobes are aware that most of the people ISIS has murdered _are_ Muslim? This is what I came to post and I find it so confusing. ISIS is mostly killing Muslims so wtf are they trying to achieve?? And if the world knows that ISIS is mostly killing Muslims, aren’t Muslims also victims of ISIS? The whole thing is baffling. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2015, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/allahu-akbar/737589/77 "2015-11-15T17:51:45Z")
> [@FloatyGimpy](#): > > This is what I came to post and I find it so confusing. ISIS is mostly killing Muslims so wtf are they trying to achieve?? To put it another way, ISIS sees most Muslims the way Jack Chick and the Phelps family see most Christians. ---
**Author:** ![Foggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foggy/32/1082_2.png) [@Foggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Foggy)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2015, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/allahu-akbar/737589/78 "2015-11-15T18:08:28Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > Nonsense. General Cornpone was a good and decent man. > > **Starving Artist** is a delusional, sick, pustulent, and rabid piece of scum. Please don’t hold back on my account, tell us how you really feel. 😉 > [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > Because newbies and people who haven’t read the other thread might be fooled into taking such posters at their word. So? What do you care what newbies think about you? That unnamed thread is 4 years old, ignore the tube comments and it will fade into the mist of cyberspace. > [@](#): > > “Out of touch” and “idiot” are easy insults to throw around and usually mean little other than the other person has politics that differ from yours. You forgot **deluded** , and it’s not just your politics that I disagree with. > [@](#): > > You got any examples other than political opinions you don’t like? No, not at this time. I don’t feel like digging though your posting history, I have enough problems with depression without adding to it. > [@](#): > > …assuming your lack of endowment… That hurt. Want to insult me for being obese or mentally ill too? > [@](#): > > You should, though I doubt you will. No, I have already added it to my list of regrets. It’s at the bottom of a very, very long list which starts with my failed suicide early this year. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2015, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/allahu-akbar/737589/79 "2015-11-15T18:24:26Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > Nonsense. General Cornpone was a good and decent man… His record after the War Between the States is obscure, as no one trusted him in any position of responsibility, ever again. His closest brush with renown and celebrity came with his founding of an association of like minded men to promote a cross breeding scheme of doves, pigeons and chickens. It would have been known as the Coo Cluck Clan, had anyone paid the least attention. Thus he was deprived of his last opportunity to become a footnote to History. ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2015, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/allahu-akbar/737589/80 "2015-11-15T19:37:55Z")
Ramira, I’m reading the article Trino linked. I’m not a Muslim, and I am trying to get a grip on their mindset. I interpret the tone of the article as indicative of the quandaries all non-Muslims share, as in _What the Fuck Are They Thinking_? Maybe you interpret the article as biased and bigoted, but we gotta start somewhere. I gave reading the online Koran a go and read the first couple of chapters. It struck me as angry and combative in tone. No room for debate, no questioning of beliefs, and no encouraging of individual thought. The article suggests that the Islamic State is very rigid in their thinking and finds itself in opposition to other Muslims, particularly Shiites. Is this wrong? The reporter interviews Muslims who wanted to emigrate to IS, as they believe the caliphate is the only righteous government on earth. Is this wrong? “The caliph is required to implement Sharia. Any deviation will compel those who have pledged allegiance to inform the caliph in private of his error and, in extreme cases, to excommunicate and replace him if he persists.” Is this wrong? Please don’t assume I’m being biased and bigoted. I realize the actions of extreme terrorists do not reflect the entire Muslim culture. But I’m still going to worry that any Middle Eastern I see is about to blow shit up. That’s because of survival instinct, not bigotry. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/allahu-akbar/737589.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/allahu-akbar/737589.md?page=5)