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 an-našīd al-waṭaniyy al-lubnāniyy) 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 TV channel 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 which proved the claim.^[3]

Adoption

The Lebanese National Anthem is adopted by Rashid Nakhle and Wadih Sabra.

Lyrics

Arabic كلنا للوطن للعلى للعلم ملء عين الزّمن سيفنا والقلم سهلنا والجبل منبت للرجال قولنا والعمل في سبيل الكمال كلنا للوطن للعلى للعلم كلّنا للوطن شيخنا والفتى عند صوت الوطن أسد غاب متى ساورتنا الفتن شرقنا قلبه أبداً لبنان صانه ربه لمدى الأزمان كلنا للوطن للعلى للعلم كلنا للوطن بحره برّه درّة الشرقين رِفدُه برّهُ مالئ القطبين إسمه عزّه منذ كان الجدود مجدُهُ أرزُهُ رمزُهُ للخلود كلّنا للوطن للعلى للعلم كلّنا للوطن

Transliteration Kullunā li-l-waṭan, li-l-ʻulā li-l-ʻalam Milʼu ʻayn iz-zaman, sayfunā wa-l-qalam Sahlunā wa-l-jabal, manbitun li-r-rijāl Qawlunā wa-l-ʻamal fī sabīli l-kamāl Kullunā li-l-waṭan, li-l-ʻulā li-l-ʻalam, Kullunā li-l-waṭan Šayḫunā wa-l-fatā, ʻinda ṣawṭi l-waṭan ʼUsdu ġābin matā, sāwaratnā l-fitan Šarqunā qalbuhu, ʼabadan Lubnān Ṣānahu rabbuhu, li-madā l-azmān Kullunā li-l-waṭan, li-l-ʻulā li-l-ʻalam, Kullunā li-l-waṭan Baḥruhu barruhu, durratu š-šarqayn Rifduhu birruhu, māliʼu l-quṭbayn ʼIsmuhu ʻizzuhu, munḏu kāna l-judūd Majduhu ʼarzuhu, ramzuhu li-l-ḫulūd Kullunā li-l-waṭan, li-l-ʻulā li-l-ʻalam Kullunā li-l-waṭan

English Translation All of us! For our Country, for our Glory and Flag! Our valor and our writings are the envy of the ages. Our mountain and our valley, they bring forth stalwart men. And to Perfection we devote our words and labor. All of us! For our Country, for our Glory and Flag! 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 Glory and Flag! 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 Glory and Flag! All of us! For our Country[4][5]

French Tous pour la Patrie, pour la Gloire, pour le drapeau ! Depuis les premiers siècles, toujours avec notre épée et notre crayon Nos plaines et nos montagnes sont sources de nos hommes vaillants Nos paroles et actions, pour atteindre la Perfection Tous pour la Patrie, pour la Gloire, pour le drapeau, Tous pour la Patrie ! Les vieux et les jeune à l'appel de la Patrie Lion[s] de jungle[s] lorsque l'on nous défie Le cœur de Notre Orient restera pour toujours le Liban Nous protège son Dieu quelle que soit l'époque Tous pour la Patrie, pour la Gloire, pour le drapeau, Tous pour la Patrie ! Sa mer et sa terre, Perle des deux Orients Son symbole est sa charité, elle atteint les deux pôles Son nom et son triomphe [sont connus] depuis l'époque de nos aïeux Sa Gloire et son Cèdre, symboles jusqu'à l'éternité Tous pour la Patrie, pour la Gloire, pour le drapeau, tous pour la Patrie !

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. p. 456. ISBN 9789774246074. Retrieved 8 October 2009.
2. "Mini-Documentary on the Lebanese National Anthem (after the news)". Al-Jadeed.
3. "Mini-Documentary on the Lebanese National Anthem (part 2) (after the news)". Al-Jadeed.
4. Farshad, Mohammad-Avvali (2007). The Role of Art in the Struggle for National Identity in Lebanon. Akademische Schriftenreihe. GRIN Verlag. p. 36. ISBN 9783638778602. Retrieved 2009-10-08.
5. Goldstein, Margaret J. (2004). Lebanon in Pictures. Visual geography series (illustrated, revised ed.). Twenty-First Century Books. p. 80. ISBN 9780822511717. 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.
• Audio of the national anthem of Lebanon, with information and lyrics