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>>In Arabic, "Ya Allah" is probably closest to "Oh [my] God" but "Allahu akbar" (literally "God is great") can be used as a expression of surprise, much like "good God" in English.<<

Thank you so much!
This is exactly what I was looking for.

Understanding that this man is not Arab, the words Allahu Akbar, if he said it, would be profound.
But I just don't want to be walking around, hear someone say it and duck for cover if I don't have to.

I'm in MI. We don't hang out in Dearborn but we do go there. Wouldn't I look stupid if someone was using the equivalent of "Good God" and I was freaking?

Thank you so much!

You're welcome.

Understanding that this man is not Arab, the words Allahu Akbar, if he said it, would be profound.

Not as profound as you might think. Arabic exclamations have been borrowed in the languages of non-Arab Muslims, just as "Hallelujah" has been borrowed into English because of the Church.

Wouldn't I look stupid if someone was using the equivalent of "Good God" and I was freaking?

"Good God" would be one translation. As an exclamation, its meaning is heavily context-dependent. And as in all languages, this makes a difference. James Brown's "Good God!" had a very different meaning than my grandmother's expression of hushed disbelief.