"Ardh Alforatain" (The Land of The Two Rivers) (Arabic: أرض الفراتين) is the old national anthem of Iraq. Arabic (; , less formally, ) is the largest member of the Semitic branch of the Afro-Asiatic language family (classification: South Central Semitic) and is closely related to Hebrew and Aramaic. ... A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that is formally recognized by a countrys government as their official national song. ...

The anthem was adopted in 1979, written by Shafiq Alkamali (who was later killed by Saddam's secret police) with music by Walid Georges Gholmieh. After the ousting of the Saddam Hussein government in 2003, the Iraqi government selected a new national anthem, Mawtini. However, Ardh Alforatain is still widely in use, although not officially. Saddam Hussein Saddam Hussein Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti, (Arabic ), born April 28, 1937 , was the President of Iraq from 1979 until he was captured by US troops on December 13th, 2003, following the 2003 invasion of Iraq, though he maintains he is still president. ... Mawtini (My Homeland) is the national anthem of Iraq. ...

Latin Alphabet Transliteration

Watanun Madda

Ala'al ofki janaha

Wartada majd alhadharati wishaha

Borikat Ardh Alforatain

Watan

Abkarial majd a'azman wa samaha

Watanun Madda

Ala'al ofki janaha

Wartada majd alhadharati wishaha

Borikat Ardh Alforatain

Watan

Abkarial majd a'azman wa samaha

Hathihi al Ardh lahib wa sana

Wa shmokhon la todanihi sama'a

Hathihi al Ardh lahib wa sana

Wa shmokhon la todanihi sama'a

Jabalun yasmo ala hathi aldona

Wa soholon jassadat feena el eba

Babel fina wa Ashoron lana

Wa bina altarekh yagtado dhiy'a

Nahno filnas jama'ana wahdana

Ghatbatal Sayfi wa hilm al anbia

Fi Omqil tarikh konnah lelorfi rifqa

Wa hamalna Rayatal tahrir sidqa

Fi Omqil tarikh konnah lelorfi rifqa

Wa hamalna Rayatal tahrir sidqa

Nabokhadonossaro ahdana al khayla mohran

Wa Salahoddin a'tana rimaha

Watanun Madda

Ala'al ofki janaha

Wartada majd alhadharati wishaha

Borikat Ardh Alforatain

Watan

Abkarial majd a'azman wa samaha

Watanun Madda

Ala'al ofki janaha

Wartada majd alhadharati wishaha

Borikat Ardh Alforatain

Watan

Abkarial majd a'azman wa samaha

Qasaman bel sayfi wal qawli aljazeel

Wa saheel el khayli endal talabi

Qasaman bel sayfi wal qawli aljazeel

Wa saheel el khayli endal talabi

Innana soron lemadaha al arhabi

Wa hadeer al sha'ab yomal nowati

Thawratal tawhidi wa rayatol nabi

Walsajaya walshomokh al ya'arobi

Majjidi jazlan belada al arabi

Nahno ashraqna fia shamsu ughrubi

Faljebaho olsomro eshkon wa mahabba

Wa somodon shakka lelinsani darbah

Ayoha al ka'id lela'alyai shabak

Eja'ali al aafaak lelsawlati saha

Watanun Madda

Ala'al ofki janaha

Wartada majd alhadharati wishaha

Borikat Ardh Alforatain

Watan

Abkarial majd a'azman wa samaha

Watanun Madda

Ala'al ofki janaha

Wartada majd alhadharati wishaha

Borikat Ardh Alforatain

Watan

Abkarial majd a'azman wa samaha

Ya saraial ba'athi ya osdal areen

Ya shmokhal Ezi wal majil taleed

Ya saraial ba'athi ya osdal aleel

Ya shmokhal Ezi wal majil saleel

Izahafi kalhawli lelnasri el mobeen

Waba'athi fi Ardina a'ahdal Rasheed

Nahno jeelol bathli fajrul kadihin

Ya rihabal majdi odna min jadeed

Ommatan tabni bee'azmin la yalean

Wa shaheedin yaktafi khatwa shaheed

Shabuna aljabbaro zahwon wantilak

Wa kela'a elizi yabneehal rifaqu

lahnonal aljabbaro nasron wantilak

Wa kela'a elizi yabneehal rifaqu

Domta lil orbi malathan

Ya Iraq

Wa shomosan tajalol layla sabahan

Watanun Madda

Ala'al ofki janaha

Wartada majd alhadharati wishaha

Borikat Ardh Alforatain

Watan

Abkarial majd a'azman wa samaha

Watanun Madda

Ala'al ofki janaha

Wartada majd alhadharati wishaha

Borikat Ardh Alforatain

Watan

Abkarial majd a'azman wa samaha

Arabic Text

وطن مدا على الأفق جناحا

وارتدى مجد الحضارات وشاحا

بوركت أرض الفراتين

وطن

عبقري المجد عزما و سماحا

وطن مدا على الأفق جناحا

وارتدى مجد الحضارات وشاحا

بوركت أرض الفراتين

وطن

عبقري المجد عزما و سماحا

هذه الأرض لهيب و سنا

و شموخ لا تدانيه سما

هذه الأرض لهيب و سنا

و شموخ لا تدانيه سما

جبل يسمو على هذه الدنا

و سهول جسدت فينا الإبى

بابل فينا و آشور لنا

و بنا التاريخ يقتد ضيا

نحن في الناس جمعنا و حدنا

غضبة السيف و حلم الأنبياء

في عمق التاريخ كنا للعرف رفقا

و حملنا راية التحرير صدقا

نبوخذنصر أهدانا الخيل مهرا

و صلاح الدين أعطانا رماحا

وطن مدا على الأفق جناحا

وارتدى مجد الحضارات وشاحا

بوركت أرض الفراتين

وطن

عبقري المجد عزما و سماحا

وطن مدا على الأفق جناحا

وارتدى مجد الحضارات وشاحا

بوركت أرض الفراتين

وطن

عبقري المجد عزما و سماحا

قسما بالسيف و القول الجزيل

و صهيل الخيل عند الطلب

قسما بالسيف و القول الجزيل

و صهيل الخيل عند الطلب

إننا سور لمداها الأرحب

و هدير الشعب يوم النوب

ثورة التحرير و رايات النبي

و السجايا و الشموخ اليعربي

مجدي جزلا بلاد العرب

نحن أشرقنا فيا شمس أغربي

فالجباه السمر عشق و محبة

و صمود شق للإنسان دربه

فالجباه السمر عشق و محبة

و صمود شق للإنسان دربه

أيها القائد للعلياء شعبك اجعل الآفاق للصولات ساحة

وطن مدا على الأفق جناحا

وارتدى مجد الحضارات وشاحا

بوركت أرض الفراتين

وطن

عبقري المجد عزما و سماحا

وطن مدا على الأفق جناحا

وارتدى مجد الحضارات وشاحا

بوركت أرض الفراتين

وطن

عبقري المجد عزما و سماحا

يا سرايا البعث يا أسد العرين

يا شموخ العز و المجد التليد

يا سرايا البعث يا أسد العرين

يا شموخ العز و المجد التليد

ازحفي كالهول للنصر المبين

و ابعثي في أرضنا عهد الرشيد

نحن جيل البذل فجر الكادحين

يا رحاب المجد عدنا من جديد

أمة تبني بعزم لا يلين

و شهيد يقتفي خطو شهيد

شعبنا الجبار زهو و انطلاق

و قلاع العز يبنيها الرفاق

شعبناالجبار زهو و انطلاق

و قلاع العز يبنيها الرفاق

دمت للعرب ملاذا

يا عراق

و شموسا تجعل الليل صباحا

وطن مدا على الأفق جناحا

وارتدى مجد الحضارات وشاحا

بوركت أرض الفراتين

وطن

عبقري المجد عزما و سماحا

وطن مدا على الأفق جناحا

وارتدى مجد الحضارات وشاحا

بوركت أرض الفراتين

وطن

عبقري المجد عزما و سماحا

English Translation

A home land that extended its wings over the horizon,

And wore the glory of civilization as a garment -

Blessed be the land of the two rivers,

A homeland of glorious determination and tolerance.

A home land that extended its wings over the horizon,

And wore the glory of civilization as a garment -

Blessed be the land of the two rivers,

A homeland of glorious determination and tolerance.

This homeland is made of flame and splendour

And pride unequalled by the high heavens.

This homeland is made of flame and splendour

And pride unequalled by the high heavens.

It is a mountain that rises above the tops of the world

And a plain that embodies our pride.

Babylon is inherent in us and Assyria is ours,

And because of the glory of our background

History itself radiates with light,

And it is we alone who possess the anger of the sword

And the patience of the prophets.

A home land that extended its wings over the horizon,

And wore the glory of civilization as a garment -

Blessed be the land of the two rivers,

A homeland of glorious determination and tolerance.

A home land that extended its wings over the horizon,

And wore the glory of civilization as a garment -

Blessed be the land of the two rivers,

A homeland of glorious determination and tolerance.

A home land that extended its wings over the horizon,

And wore the glory of civilization as a garment -

Blessed be the land of the two rivers,

A homeland of glorious determination and tolerance.

A home land that extended its wings over the horizon,

And wore the glory of civilization as a garment -

Blessed be the land of the two rivers,

A homeland of glorious determination and tolerance.

Oh company of al-Ba'th, you pride of lions,

Oh pinnacle of pride and of inherited glory,

Oh company of al-Ba'th, you pride of lions,

Oh pinnacle of pride and of inherited glory,

Advance, bringing terror, to a certain victory

And resurrect the time of al-Rashid in our land!

We are a generation who give all and toil to the utmost.

Oh expanse of glory, we have returned anew

To a nation that we build with unyielding determination.

And each martyr follows in the footsteps of a former martyr.

Our mighty nation is filled with pride and vigour

And the comrades build the fortresses of glory.

Oh Iraq, may you remain forever a refuge for all the Arabs

And be as suns that turn night into day!

A home land that extended its wings over the horizon,

And wore the glory of civilization as a garment -

Blessed be the land of the two rivers,

A homeland of glorious determination and tolerance.

A home land that extended its wings over the horizon,

And wore the glory of civilization as a garment -

Blessed be the land of the two rivers,

A homeland of glorious determination and tolerance.