Every September 23, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia celebrates its National Day. It marked the unification of the Kingdom under King Abdul Aziz Bin Abdul Rahman Al Saud in 1932. Let’s highlight the National Anthem of Saudi Arabia
Adopting the National Anthem
As we hear it today, Saudi Arabia’s national anthem was first adopted in 1950 by King Abdulaziz but without the lyrics to be the official Royal Salute. At the time, Saudi Arabia, unlike other nations, did not have a national anthem.
King Abdulaziz, during his visit to Egypt, asked an Egyptian composer, Abdul-Raḥman al-Khaṭīb, to compose a national anthem for Saudi Arabia, and thus “Āsh al-Malīk” was created.
The melody of the anthem is based on Arab fanfare style and is not dissimilar to the national anthems of other brotherly Arab states at the time. This anthem was played at official Saudi ceremonies to salute foreign dignitaries and royal families.
The piece was a gift from Egypt’s King Farouq in 1947 when King Abdul Aziz visited Egypt.
The composer Abdul Rahman Khateeb played the anthem on the trumpet at the official welcoming ceremony held for King Abdulaziz.
Lyrics added to the National Anthem of Saudi Arabia
In the early 80s, King Khalid felt that the Saudi national anthem needed to express the poetic traditions of the Arab people.
At this point, the Saudi poet Ibrahim Khafaja was commissioned to add poetry to the royal salute, which became the official royal anthem of the Kingdom.
Khafaja, in his many interviews, has narrated how King Khalid, who reigned from 1975 to 1982, ordered the addition of lyrics to the royal salute after the King had heard the Egyptian National Anthem.
The King had enjoyed the poetry of the Egyptian anthem and noted a purpose and meaning in the anthem.
By the time Khafaja’s choice as the poet to write the lyrics was finalized by the officials, King Khalid passed away, and for a short while, the project anthem was put on hold.
King Fahd succeeded King Khalid and heard of the former King’s wish, to which he ordered Khafaja to complete the National Anthem of Saudi Arabia. Khafaja was asked to focus on the Kingdom’s traditions and heritage in the lyrics of the anthem.
The poet took up the task with zest and pride, completing the poem in six months.
The Anthem and Its Meaning
The opening word of the anthem Sari’i means to Hasten. For this reason, the National Anthem is commonly known as Sari’i among Saudis.
،لِلْمَجْدِ وَالْعَلْيَاء
!مَجِّدِي لِخَالِقِ الْسَّمَاء
وَارْفَعِي الْخَفَّاقَ الْأَخْضَر
،يَحْمِلُ الْنُّورَ الْمُسَطَّر
!رَدِّدِي اللهُ أَكْبَر
!يَا مَوْطِنِي
،مَوْطِنِي
!قَد عِشْتَ فَخْرَ الْمُسْلِمِين
عَاشَ الْمَلِك
لِلْعَلَم
! وَالْوَطَن
Translation
Hasten
To glory and supremacy,
Glorify the Creator of the heavens
And raise the green flag
Which carry the guidance light
Repeat: Allahu Akbar
My country,
Live as the pride of all Muslims!
Long live the King
For the flag
And homeland
The Lyrics and their message
The lyrics of the Saudi Arabian national anthem can reveal it as a call for the country to hasten towards greatness, raising its flag high, glorifying God, and offering blessings of a long life for the Saudi Arabian King.
Each Verse analyzed
“Hasten/ To glory and supremacy,/ …And raise the green flag/ Carrying the written light-reflecting guidance,…”
The first verses are relatively straightforward patriotic phrases calling on the Saudi Arabians to work towards a more glorious country and take pride in their flag.
“…Glorify the Creator of the heavens!/ …Repeat: Allahu Akbar![1]…”
In a similarly straightforward fashion to the first verse, the second verse declares the greatness of the almighty, “Allahu Akbar,” which in Arabic generally means “Allah is the greatest,” or “God is the greatest.”
“…O my country!/ My country,/ Live as the pride of Muslims!/ Long live the King/ For the flag/ And the homeland!”
The final verses of the anthem are boldly patriotic, calling upon Saudi Arabians to take pride in their country and flag, with the call of “Long live the King,” blessing the King of Saudi Arabia with a long life.
The first time the Saudi nationals heard their national anthem with its lyrics was on Eid Al Fitr 1984. Saudi composer Siraj Omar blended the anthem with music, and it was played all over national TV and radio.
