Lebanese National Anthem

النشيد الوطني اللبناني

Lebanese National Anthem
National anthem of  Lebanon
Lyrics	Rashid Nakhle
Music	Wadih Sabra, 1925
Adopted	12 July 1927
Music sample
Kulluna lil watan (instrumental)

The Lebanese National Anthem (Arabic: النشيد الوطني اللبناني‎) was written by Rashid Nakhle and composed by Wadih Sabra. It was adopted on 12 July 1927, seven years after the proclamation of the state of Greater Lebanon during the French mandate.

History

The Lebanese national anthem was chosen following an open nationwide competition.

Composition

The music of the national anthem is influenced by Beirut's exposure to western culture by the end of the 19th century, it was composed by French trained artist Wadih Sabra in 1925.^[1]

Controversy

Al-Jadeed showed a mini documentary on the Lebanese National Anthem, claiming the music to have been plagiarized from a song dedicated to Muhammad Ibn 'Abd al-Karim al-Khattabi, the leader of the Rif Republic, which was composed by Lebanese Mohammed Flayfel.^[2] it later showed another documentary containing documents that disprove the claim.^[3]

Adoption

Lyrics

Arabic Lyrics كلنـا للوطـن للعـلى للعـلم ملء عين الزّمن سـيفنا والقـلم سهلنا والجبـل منبت للرجـال قولنا والعمـل في سبيل الكمال كلنا للوطن للعلى للعلم كلّنا للوطن شيخنـا والفتـى عنـد صـوت الوطن أسـد غـاب متى سـاورتنا الفــتن شــرقنـا قلبـه أبــداً لبـنان صانه ربه لمدى الأزمان كلنا للوطن للعلى للعلم كلنا للوطن بحـره بــرّه درّة الشرقين رِفـدُهّ بــرّهُ مالئ القطبين إسمـه عـزّه منذ كان الجدود مجــدُهُ أرزُهُ رمزُهُ للخلود كلّنا للوطن للعلى للعلم كلّنا للوطن

Transliteration Kulluna lil-watan, lil'ula lil-'alam Mil'u ayn az-zaman, saifuna wal-qalam Sahluna wal-jabal, manbitun lir-rijal Qawluna wal-'amal fi sabil-el-kamal Kulluna lil-watan, lil'ula lil-'alam, Kulluna lil-watan Shaykhuna wal-fata, 'Inda sawt-il-watan Usdu ghaben mata, sawaratn-al-fitan Sharquna qalbuhu, abadan Lubnan Sanahu rabbuhu, li mada-l-azman Kulluna lil-watan, lil'ula lil-'alam, Kulluna lil-watan Bahruhu barruhu, durratush-sharqayn Rifduhu birruhu, mali' ul-qutbayn Ismuhu 'izzuhu, munzu kana-l-judud Majduhu arzuhu, ramzuhu lil-khulud Kulluna lil-watan, lil'ula lil-'alam, Kulluna lil-watan

English Translation All of us! For our Country, for our Flag and Glory! Our valor and our writings are the envy of the ages. Our mountains and our valleys, they bring forth stalwart men. And to Perfection we devote our words and labor. All of us! For our Country, for our Flag and Glory! All of us! For our Country Our Elders and our children, they await our Country's call, And on the Day of Crisis they are as Lions of the Jungle. The heart of our East is ever Lebanon, May God preserve him until the end of time. All of us! For our Country, for our Flag and Glory! All of us! For our Country The Gems of the East are his land and sea. Throughout the world his good deeds flow from pole to pole. And his name is his glory since time began. The cedars are his pride, his immortality's symbol. All of us! For our Country, for our Flag and Glory! All of us! For our Country[4][5]

References

1. ^ Zuhur, Sherifa (2001). Colors of enchantment: theater, dance, music, and the visual arts of the Middle East (illustrated ed.). Cairo: American university in Cairo press. pp. 456. ISBN 9774246071, 9789774246074. http://books.google.com/books?id=MOVPaLXjjsAC&pg=PA340&dq=%22Lebanese+national+anthem%22#v=onepage&q=%22Lebanese%20national%20anthem%22&f=false. Retrieved 8 October 2009. 
2. ^ "Mini-Documentary on the Lebanese National Anthem (after the news)". Al-Jadeed. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHRtcFhcdhw. 
3. ^ "Mini-Documentary on the Lebanese National Anthem (part 2) (after the news)". Al-Jadeed. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9oRa3ELV91I. 
4. ^ Farshad, Mohammad-Avvali (2007). The Role of Art in the Struggle for National Identity in Lebanon. Akademische Schriftenreihe. GRIN Verlag. pp. 36. ISBN 3638778606, 9783638778602. http://books.google.com/books?id=PDOGrsWMcAYC&pg=PA5&dq=%22Lebanese+national+anthem%22&as_brr=0#v=onepage&q=all%20of%20us%20for%20our%20contry&f=false. Retrieved 2009-10-08. 
5. ^ Goldstein, Margaret J. (2004). Lebanon in Pictures. Visual geography series (illustrated, revised ed.). Twenty-First Century Books. pp. 80. ISBN 0822511711, 9780822511717. http://books.google.com/books?id=8e2i6uu6wswC&pg=PA69&dq=Lebanese+national+anthem&lr=&as_brr=3#v=onepage&q=Lebanese%20national%20anthem&f=false. Retrieved 2009-10-08. 

External links

Vocal versions of the anthem can be heard at

• The National Anthem – A page that is part of the official page of the Presidency of Lebanon.
• The Hymns of the Army page at the official website of the Lebanese Army.