ALLAH AKBAR -

ALLAH AKBAR - LINGUISTICALLY

It is Shirk to say Allah al Akbar not because it is not in Quran. It can't be in the Quran (as an attribute of Allah) because Akbar is a superlative.

Have you ever heard -

Big Bigger Biggest Or Great Greater Greatest.

The word 'Great' has two applications-

A. quality

B. superlative.

Greater, Greatest are just superlatives*.

*Here is some more examples of Superlatives.

كبير (kabir) Big / Great

أكبر (akbar) Bigger / Greater

جميل (gamiil)- Pretty

أجمل (agmal) - Prettier

*When we say 'Prettier ' it means prettier than someone or something. It becomes a comparison.  But when we say 'Pretty' it just means a Quality of someone or something.*

طيب (Tayyib) - Nice

أطيب (aTyab)- Nicer *From above examples, you should get a sense of how it works.

So, Allah Akbar means Allah is the Greatest of all the gods.  Nouzubillah

Idol worshippers of Arabia use to say -

Al Hubal Akbar

Al Manat Akbar.

Should we follow them and say - no Allah Akbar and not Hubal?

There is only one God.* *So, when you say Greatest among gods - you are saying more than one god.

The case of attributes / names of Allah is different. He is the BEST Judge, Provider,  Decider. You are also a Judge, Provider, Decider within the authority given by Allah You name yourself Rahman,  Raheem as well. That is not a comparison with Allah. None of the Qualities / Attributes or Allah can be compared with anything or Anyone.

Summary -

1. Kabir is Quality.  Akbar is Superlative. You won't understand if you don't know basics of language.

2. Best follows with the Quality.  Best Provider. As explained earlier, you also provide for your family from His providence

3. Allah Akbar - Allah is greatest. None of these statements clarify greater - from / of / to / in - what.

Allah is a proper noun. It simply means God. Akbar is superlative. So, the phrase has a silent part.

Basically, you are saying -

الله أكبر بين الآلهة - 

Allah Akbar (bayn alaliha) -

Allah is the greatest among the gods

An example may help you understand better. We all know Michael Phelps is the greatest Swimmer of all time. So, if you say - Phelps al Akbar- it has a silent part in that phrase - Phelps al Akbar (baeen / among Swimmers). It won't mean he is greatest father, husband...

So, if you need to utter as Tasbih, in salat, or proclaim - say - Allah l-kabir - Allah the Great as in verse 13.9.