Divine Greatness in the Holy Qur’an: A Linguistic and Theological Analysis of al-Kabīr and Akbar

This original research conducts a comprehensive Qur'an-centric linguistic and theological examination of the root K-B-R (كَبَرَ) in the Holy Qur'an, contending that divine self-descriptions of greatness are predominantly articulated through intrinsic, non-comparative forms that emphasize absolute transcendence, rather than relational elatives that imply contrast or hierarchy. Rooted in the foundational Qur'anic doctrines of Tawḥīd (absolute unity) and Tanzīh (incomparability), the study interrogates the alignment of the ubiquitous devotional phrase "Allāhu Akbar" with the text's own patterns of divine naming. Employing a multifaceted qualitative methodology—including exhaustive root tracing, morphological dissection, semantic contextualization, frequency analysis, and thematic mapping across the 114 surahs—the analysis unveils that al-Kabīr (الكبير) is firmly entrenched as a definite, nominal divine attribute in over 40 instances, often within structured pairings that reinforce its permanence. Conversely, Akbar (أكبر) manifests solely in elative constructions (approximately 20 occurrences), denoting comparative superiority in specific rhetorical or supplicatory contexts, without ever being formalized as an independent name or self-attributed quality of Allah. This morphological and semantic bifurcation bears critical theological ramifications: comparative forms inherently evoke relational dynamics, which may subtly contravene the Qur'an's portrayal of divine greatness as boundless and non-relative (e.g., Q. 2:255). By delineating absolute attributes from emphatic expressions, the paper advances nuanced contributions to Qur'anic linguistics, the exegesis of Asmāʾ al-Ḥusnā, and the hermeneutics of scripture-tradition interplay in Islamic theology. It also proposes implications for devotional praxis, advocating a return to Qur'anic precision to enrich contemporary expressions of faith.