Takbir

The constant shouting of “Alahu Akhbar” (“God is Great”) by the protesters in Iran has got to be exquisitely annoying to the powers-that-be-shaking there. Known as the Takbir, the phrase is uttered at moments of strong emotion throughout the Muslim world. Along with the wearing of the green (the universal color of Islam), it signifies […]

iran flag 1.gifThe constant shouting of “Alahu Akhbar” (“God is Great”) by the protesters in Iran has got to be exquisitely annoying to the powers-that-be-shaking there. Known as the Takbir, the phrase is uttered at moments of strong emotion throughout the Muslim world. Along with the wearing of the green (the universal color of Islam), it signifies that this is as Islamic a movement as 1979, when it was also the cry in the street. No counter-revolution here: The Takbir is written 22 times along the border of the central white stripe of the current Iranian flag–the one that supplanted the Shah’s imperial ensign with the sword-wielding lion in the center.

Iran flag old.gif

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