Kassaman

قَسَمًا

English: We Pledge
Kassaman
Official copy of the Algerian National Anthem
National anthem of Algeria
Also known as	Qassaman
Lyrics	Mufdi Zakariah, 1955
Music	Mohamed Fawzi, 1963
Adopted	1963
Music sample
Kassaman (Instrumental)

Kassaman or Qassaman (We Pledge) (Arabic: قَسَمًا‎) is the national anthem of Algeria. It was adopted in 1963, shortly after the Independence. The lyrics were written by Mufdi Zakariah in 1956 while imprisoned by the French colonial forces. He wrote the verses using his blood on the 69th cell walls. The composer of the music is Mohamed Fawzi, from Egypt. The lyrics to Kassaman are unusual for a national anthem in that they make direct reference to another state – France.^[1]

Lyrics

Lyrics in Arabic	Transliteration	English translation
قسما بالنازلات الماحقات و الدماء الزاكيات الطاهرات و البنود اللامعات الخافقات في الجبال الشامخات الشاهقات نحن ثرنا فحياة أو ممات و عقدنا العزم أن تحيا الجزائر فاشهدوا... فاشهدوا... فاشهدوا... نحن جند في سبيل الحق ثرنا و إلى استقلالنا بالحرب قمنا لم يكن يصغى لنا لما نطقنا فاتخذنا رنة البارود وزنا و عزفنا نغمة الرشاش لحنا وعقدنا العزم أن تحيا الجزائر فاشهدوا... فاشهدوا... فاشهدوا... يا فرنسا قد مضى وقت العتاب و طويناه كما يطوى الكتاب يا فرنسا ان ذا يوم الحساب فاستعدي وخذي منا الجواب ان في ثورتنا فصل الخطاب و عقدنا العزم ان تحيى الجزائر فاشهدوا... فاشهدوا... فاشهدوا... نحن من أبطالنا ندفع جندا و على أشلائنا نصنع مجدا و على أرواحنا نصعد خلدا و على هاماتنا نرفع بندا جبهة التحرير أعطيناك عهدا و عقدنا العزم أن تحيا الجزائر فاشهدوا... فاشهدوا... فاشهدوا... صرخة الأوطان من ساح الفدا فاسمعوها واستجيبوا للندا و اكتبوها بدماء الشهدا و اقرأوها لبني الجيل غدا قد مددنا لك يا مجد يدا و عقدنا العزم أن تحيا الجزائر فاشهدوا... فاشهدوا... فاشهدوا...	Qassaman Binnazilat Ilmahiqat Waddimaa Izzakiyat Ittahirat Walbonood Illamiaat Ilkhafiqat F'Iljibal Ishshamikhat Ishshahiqat Nahno Thurna Fahayaton Aw ma mamaat Wa Aqadna Alazma An Tahya Aljazair Fashhadoo! Fashhadoo! Fashhadoo! Nahno Jondon Fi Sabil Il hakki Thorna Wa Ila Isstiqlalina Bilharbi Kumna. Lam Yakon Yossgha Lana Lamma Natakna Fattakhathna Rannat Albaroodi Wazna. Wa Azafna Naghamat Alrashshashi Lahna Wa Aqadna Alazmat An Tahya Aljazair. Fashhadoo! Fashhadoo! Fashhadoo! Ya Faransaa, qad matha waktu l`itab Wa taweynahu kama yutwa lkitab Ya Faransa inna tha yawmu lhisab Fasta`iddee wakhudhee minna ljawab Inna fee thawratinaa faslal khitab Wa Aqadna Alazma An Tahya Aljazair Fashhadoo! Fashhadoo! Fashhadoo! Nahno min Abtalina Nadfaoo Jonda Wa Ala Ashlaina Nassnaoo Majda. Wa Ala Arouahena Nassaado Kholda. Wa Ala Hamatina Narfao Bandaa. Djabhato' Ltahreeri Aataynaki Ahda Wa Aqadna Alazma An Tahya Aljazair. Fashhadoo! Fashhadoo! Fashhadoo! Sarkhato 'lawtani min Sah Ilfida Issmaooha Wasstageebo Linnida Waktobooha Bidimaa Ilshohadaa Wakraooha Libany Iljeeli ghada. Kad Madadna Laka Ya Majdo Yada Wa Aqadna Alazma An Tahya Aljazair. Fashhadoo! Fashhadoo! Fashhadoo!	We swear by the lightning that destroys, By the virtuous and fragrant blood, By the shining, fluttering banners, In the steep and majestic mountains, That we have risen to revolution in life or death and we have resolved that Algeria shall live - So bear witness, bear witness, bear witness! We are soldiers in the name of righteousness have revolted And for our independence to war have risen. Had we not spoken up none would have listened So we have taken the drum of gunpowder as our rhythm And the sound of machine guns as our melody, and we have resolved that Algeria shall live - So bear witness, bear witness, bear witness! O France, the time of reproach has passed And we have closed like a book; O France, the day of reckoning is at hand So prepare to receive from us our answer! In our revolution is the end of empty talk; and we have resolved that Algeria shall live - So bear witness, bear witness, bear witness! From our heroes we shall make an army come to being, and on our dead we build 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, and we have resolved that Algeria shall live - So bare witness, bare witness, bare witness! The cry of the Fatherland sounds from the battlefields. Listen to it and heed 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, and we have resolved that Algeria shall live - So bear witness, bear witness, bear witness!

References

1. ^ "Algeria: Qassaman". NationalAnthems.me. http://nationalanthems.me/algeria-qassaman. Retrieved 8 August 2011. 

External links

• Streaming audio, lyrics and info
• Lyrics in Arabic
• MP3 version of Kassaman
• The musical score, the text in arabic and french, on the Presidency's Website
• Watch the Algerian Anthem, with arabic lyrics and war pictures archives
• Watch the People's National Army singing the Algerian Anthem