In a New York Times op-ed, РІР‚СљI Want Allahu Akbar Back,РІР‚Сњ the writer Wajahat Ali said heРІР‚в„ўd recently used РІР‚СљAllahu akbarРІР‚Сњ more than 100 times, including while tasting a delicious kebab.Р”В¬NNРІР‚в„ўs Jake Tapper got caught up in the РІР‚СљAllahu akbarРІР‚Сњ debate, saying on air that it could be used РІР‚Сљunder the most beautiful of circumstances, and too often we hear it being said in moments like this,РІР‚Сњ referring to the New York attack. Others pointed out that the majority of the worldРІР‚в„ўs 1.5 billion Muslims invoke РІР‚СљAllahu akbarРІР‚Сњ in nonviolent, celebratory ways, such as at the birth of a baby or upon passing an exam. Muslim writers noted that discrepancy, a phenomenon that lawyer Arsalan Iftikhar called РІР‚Сљthe Allahu akbar double standard of terrorism.РІР‚Сњ Dallas-based Muslim cleric Omar Suleiman, writing on CNN.com, warned against allowing РІР‚Сљterrorists or agendas of fear to own any of the words, concepts, or devotions found in the sacred text of a quarter of the worldРІР‚в„ўs population.РІР‚Сњ Trump offers no such hang-'em-high posturing when the suspects are white extremists or non-Muslim shooters. Indeed, President Donald Trump condemned the New York attack, called the suspect an РІР‚Сљanimal,РІР‚Сњ and urged the death penalty for him, all while the investigation was ongoing. There are widespread fears that one major attack is all it would take for the Trump administration to come up with a collective punishment for the nationРІР‚в„ўs 3.3 million Muslims. This certainly wasnРІР‚в„ўt the first time Muslims have issued reminders about the many contexts for РІР‚СљAllahu akbar,РІР‚Сњ but the force of the response reflects the urgency of defending Islam at this moment, as itРІР‚в„ўs exploited by extremists on one side and bigots on another. Within hours, the Arabic words appeared in national headlines, splayed most prominently on conservative sites with a clear anti-Islam bias.Р”Р„nd, just as quickly, Muslims rushed to defend the phrase in tweets, blog posts, and essays.

The outpouring to reclaim the phrase was prompted by the deadly attack in New York City in which authorities said the suspect, an Uzbek national, shouted, РІР‚СљAllahu akbar,РІР‚Сњ after rampaging down a bike trail in a truck. ThatРІР‚в„ўs the feeling behind a flurry of writings by US Muslims snatching back their most repeated of exaltations - РІР‚СљGod is greatestРІР‚Сњ - from Islamist extremists and Muslim-bashers whoРІР‚в„ўve twisted it for their own purposes. But, by God, theyРІР‚в„ўre not getting РІР‚СљAllahu akbar.РІР‚Сњ

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