Afghanistan National Anthem: English Translation, Original Lyrics And History

Sally Polly March 05, 2023 | 20:25

Afghanistan has had a number of different national anthems throughout its history. Keep scrolling down and reading about the country's history, original lyrics, and English translation!

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Afghanistan has had a number of different national anthems throughout its history. In 2004, the new Afghan constitution stated that a new national anthem for the country, requested by the post-Taliban government to signal a new era for Afghanistan, must be written in Pashto and contain the phrase “Allahu Akbar” (God is Great), and mention the names of the ethnic groups in Afghanistan. The winning composition was created by two Afghans living outside the country due to the war.

Take a look at its history, English translation and original lyrics.

History of The Afghanistan National Anthem

The Royal Salute (1926–1943)

The "Royal Salute" was the first national anthem of the Kingdom of Afghanistan, in use from 1926–1943. It was used when the national anthem needs to be played on international occasions. It usually only has a melody and no lyrics to be sung in public. In 1943, it was replaced by a second national anthem: Our Brave and Noble King.

Grand Salute (Our Brave and Noble King) (1943–1973)

The "Grand Salute" (Pashto: لوی سلام, lit. 'Loya Salami'), also known by its incipit "Our Brave and Noble King" (Persian: ای شاهِ غیور و مهربانِ ما, romanized: Schahe ghajur-o-mehrabane ma) was the national anthem of the Kingdom of Afghanistan from 1943 to 1973. The song was officially launched in 1943 and replaced the first national anthem: The Royal Salute, created during the reign of Amanullah Khan. In 1973, the kingdom was overthrown, and the song was also abolished.

Persian Transliteration of The Afghanistan National Anthem

Schahe ghajur-o-mehrabane ma

Hastem as djan moti-e-schoma

Ma farsandane tu im!

Ma feda kare tu im.

Ei Schahe ma

Ei Schahe mellat cha-e-ma!

The Afghanistan National Anthem in English translation

Our brave and noble King,

We are your faithful followers.

We are your sons!

We are ready to sacrifice to you.

Oh, our King!

Oh, our King and friend of the people!

National anthem of the Republic of Afghanistan (1973–1978)

"Tso če dā źməka asmān wī" (Pashto: څو چې دا ځمكه اّسمان وي, lit. 'So long as there is Earth and Heaven') was the national anthem of the Republic of Afghanistan from 1973 to 1978. In 1973, the Kingdom of Afghanistan was overthrown and the Republic was established, so the country began to formulate a new national anthem, because the second national anthem: Our Brave and Noble King was a pure tribute to the king Mohammed Zahir Shah. In 1978, the Afghan military launched Saur Revolution to overthrow the Republic, and the national anthem was abolished five years after its opening.

Pashto transliteration of The Afghanistan National Anthem

Tso če dā źməka asmān wī

Tso če dā jahān wadān wī

Tso če žwand pə de jahān wī

Tso če pāte yaw Afğān wī

Təl ba dā Afğānistān wī

Təl de wī Afğān millat

Təl de wī jumhūriyat

Təl de wī millī wahdat

Təl de wī Afğān millat, jumhūriyat

Millī wahdat, millī wahdat.

The Afghanistan National Anthem in English Translation

So long as there is Earth and Heaven;

So long as the world is populated;

So long as there is life in the world;

So long as a single Afghan breathes;

There will always be this Afghanistan.

Long live the Afghan nation!

Long live the Republic!

Long live our national unity!

Long live the Afghan nation and the Republic!

Long live the Afghan nation, the Republic;

And our national unity — national unity!

Be ardent, be more ardent (1978–1991)

After the establishment of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan in 1978, a new national anthem was written. Following the Marxist coup d'état of 1978, the leadership of the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA), led by Nur Muhammad Taraki, decided to modify the national symbols, and Sulaiman Layeq wrote the lyrics for them. Jalal Ghahland created the music, while Ustad Salim Sarmad orchestrated it. Another name for this song is "Garam shah l garam shah," which translates to "Be ardent, be more ardent" (English). Sometimes simply the chorus and the first verse would be sung, as is common practice with national anthems. While Afghanistan officially rejected communism in 1986, this song remained the country's national anthem until 1991.

Pashto lyrics

:کورس

ګرم شه لا ګرم شه

!ته اې مقدس لمره

!اې دآزادۍ لمره

!اې د نيکمرغۍ لمره

موږ په توفانونوکی

پرې کړه د بری لاره

هم د تورو شپو لاره

هم د رڼایۍ لاره

سر د سربازۍ لاره

پاکه د ورورۍ لاره

کورس

دا انقلابی وطن

اوس د کارگرانو دی

دغه د زمرو ميراث

اوس د بزگرانو دی

تېر شو دستم دور

وار د مزدورانو دی

کورس

موږ په نړيوالو کی

سوله او وروري غواړو

موږه زيارايستونکو ته

پراخه آزادي غواړو

موږ ورته ډوډۍ غواړو

کور غواړو کالی غواړو

Fortress of Islam, Heart of Asia (1991–1996, 2001–2006)

From 1991 to 2006, Afghanistan used a mujahideen battle song composed in 1919 by Ustad Qasim as its national anthem. It is also known alternatively by the title "Fortress of Islam, Heart of Asia" (Persian: قلعه اسلام قلب اسیا), which is also the song's incipit.

The song was reintroduced by the new transitional government of Afghanistan in 2002; it remained such when the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan was established in 2004 and was used by the latter until 2006.

This is the Home of the Brave (1996–2001, 2021-)

During the late 1990s, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan under the Taliban took control over most of Afghanistan from the UN-recognized government and ruled most of the country until late 2001. The Taliban did not have formal laws specifying its symbols, including the flag and the anthem. An a capella nasheed song named This is the Home of the Brave (Pashto: دا د باتورانو کور, romanized: Dā də bātorāno kor) was used in its media and official ceremonies, serving as a de facto national anthem.

National anthem of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (2006–2021)

A new National Anthem (Dari: سرود ملی, romanized: Surūd-e Millī, Pashto: ملی سرود, romanized: Millī Surūd; lit. 'National anthem') was adopted and officially announced as such by a Loya Jirga in May 2006. According to Article 20 of the Afghan constitution, the national anthem shall be in Pashto with the mention of "God is Greatest" as well as the names of the ethnicities in Afghanistan. The lyrics were written by Abdul Bari Jahani, and the music was written by German–Afghan composer Babrak Wassa.