What Is The Saudi Arabi National Anthem: English Translation, Original Lyrics And History. Photo: Youtube
What Is The Saudi Arabi National Anthem: English Translation, Original Lyrics And History. Photo: Youtube

The "National Anthem of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia" ("Chant of the Saudi Nation") was first officially adopted in 1950 without lyrics. The piece was gifted by the then Egyptian King Farouq when King Abdulaziz made a visit to Egypt. It was then adopted again in 1984 with lyrics written by Ibrāhīm Khafājī. The original composition was by Abdul-Raḥman al-Khaṭīb in 1947 and the brass instrumental version was later arranged by Sirāj Umar.

Here is the anthem’s history, original lyrics and English translation.

History of Saudi Arabia National Anthem

In 1947, because Saudi Arabia did not have a national anthem like many states did, King Abdulaziz visited Egypt and asked Egyptian composer Abdul-Raḥman al-Khaṭīb to create a national anthem, and thus "Āsh al-Malīk" was created. The melody is based on an Arab fanfare style, and is similar to the national anthems of other Arab states in the area at the time. In 1958, Mohammed Talat wrote the first set of lyrics which were not often heard, so King Fahd asked poet Ibrāhīm Khafājī in 1984 to come up with a new set of lyrics, which were completed within six months on 29 June 1984. Khafājī's lyrics are the ones that are used officially today. Saudis listened to their anthem for the first time during the celebrations of Eid ul-Fitr in 1984.

"Āsh al-Malīk" is referred to by Saudi Arabians as "The National Anthem" (النشيد الوطني, an-Našīd al-Waṭanī), although it is commonly known by its incipit, "Hasten" (سارعي, Sārʿī). The lyrics call upon the country to hasten to greatness and raise the flag, glorify God, and asks Him to grant the King of Saudi Arabia long life.

The instrumental version is called the "Royal Salute" (السلام الملكي, as-Salām al-Malakī) which is also the name of the ceremony in which it is played to salute senior members of the royal family as well as diplomatic figures.

Arabic lyrics (Arabic script) of The Saudi Arabia National Anthem

سارعي للمجد والعلياء

مجدي لخالق السماء

وارفعي الخفاق اخضر

يحمل النور المسطر

رددي الله اكبر

يا موطني

موطني قد عشت فخر المسلمين

عاش المليك للعلم والوطن

Arabic lyrics (Romanization) of The Saudi Arabia National Anthem

Sār‘ī le l-majd wa l-‘alyā’,

Majjedī le Khāleq as-Samā’!

Wa arfa‘ī el khaffāq akhḍḍar

Yaḥmil an-Nūr al-musaṭṭar

Raddedi: Allahu akbar,

Yā mawtanī!

Mawtanī, ‘išta fakhr al-Muslimīn

‘Āsh al-Malik le l-‘alam wa l-watan

The Saudi Arabia National Anthem in English translation

Hasten to glory and supremacy!

Glorify the Creator of the heavens

And raise the green, fluttering flag,

Carrying the emblem of Light!

Repeat – God is greatest!

O my country,

My country, may you always live,

The glory of all Muslims!

Long live the King,

For the flag and the country!

Lyrics video of Saudi Arabia National Anthem

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