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Kassaman

Kassaman or Qassaman (The Pledge) is the national anthem of Algeria. It was adopted in 1963, shortly after independence from France. The lyrics are by Mufdi Zakariah (written in 1956 while imprisoned by French colonial forces) and the music is by Egyptian composer Mohamed Fawzi.

Transliteration

Qassaman Binnazilat Ilmahiqat
Waddimaa Izzakiyat Ittahirat
Qassa Walbonood Illamiaat Ilkhafiqat
F'Ilgibal Ishshamikhat Ishshahiqat
Nahno Thurna Fahayaton Aw ma maaat
Wa Aqadna Alazma An Tahya Algazair
Fashhadoo! Fashhadoo! Fashhadoo!

Nahno Gondon Fi Sabil Il hakki Thorna
Wa Ila Isstiqlalina Bilharbi Kumna.
Lam Yakon Yossgha Lana Lamma Natakna
Fattakhathna Rannat AIbaroodi Wazna.
Wa Azafna Naghamat Alrashshashi Lahna
Wa Aqadna Alazmat An Tahya Algazair.
Fashhadoo! Fashhadoo! Fashhadoo!

Nahno min Abtalina Nadfaoo Gondan
Wa Ala Ashlaina Nassnaoo Magdan.
Wa Ala Hamatina Narfao Bandan.
Gabhato' Ltahreeri Aataynaki Ahdan
Wa Aqadna Alazma An Tahya Algazair.
Fashhadoo! Fashhadoo! Fashhadoo!

Sarkhato 'lawtani min Sah Ilfida
Issmaooha Wasstageebo Linnida
Waktobooha Bidimaa Ilshohadaa
Wakraooha Libany Ilgeeli ghadan.
Kad Madadna Laka Ya Magdo Yada
Wa Aqadna Alazma An Tahya Algazair.
Fashhadoo! Fashhadoo! Fashhadoo!

English Translation

We swear by the lightning that destroys,
By the streams of generous blood being shed,
By the bright flags that wave,
Flying proudly on the high djebels,
That we are in revolt, whether to live or to die,
We are determined that Algeria should live,
So be our witness -be our witness -be our witness!

We are soldiers in revolt for truth
And we have fought for our independence.
When we spoke, nobody listened to us,
So we have taken the noise of gunpowder as our rhythm
And the sound of machine guns as our melody,
We are determined that Algeria should live,
So be our witness -be our witness -be our witness!

From our heroes we shall make an army come to being,
From our dead we shall build up a glory,
Our spirits shall ascend to immortality
And on our shoulders we shall raise the Standard.
To the nation's Liberation Front we have sworn an oath,
We are determined that Algeria should live,
So be our witness -be our witness -be our witness!

The cry of the Fatherland sounds from the battlefields.
Listen to it and answer the call!
Let it be written with the blood of martyrs
And be read to future generations.
Oh, Glory, we have held out our hand to you,
We are determined that Algeria should live,
So be our witness -be our witness -be our witness!

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