Kassaman or Qassaman (The Pledge) is the national anthem of Algeria. It was adopted in 1963, shortly after independence from France. The lyrics are by Mufdi Zakariah (written in 1956 while imprisoned by French colonial forces) and the music is by Egyptian composer Mohamed Fawzi.

English translation

We swear by the lightning that destroys,
By the streams of generous blood being shed,
By the bright flags that wave,
Flying proudly on the high mountains,
That we have risen up, and whether we live or die,
We are resolved that Algeria shall live -
So be our witness -be our witness - be our witness!

We are soldiers in revolt for truth
And we have fought for our independence.
When we spoke, none listened to us,
So we have taken the noise of gunpowder as our rhythm
And the sound of machine guns as our melody,
We are resolved that Algeria shall live -
So be our witness -be our witness -be our witness!

From our heroes we shall make an army come to being,
From our dead we shall build up a 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,
We are resolved that Algeria shall live -
So be our witness -be our witness -be our witness!

The cry of the Fatherland sounds from the battlefields.
Listen to it and answer 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,
We are resolved that Algeria shall live -
So be our witness -be our witness -be our witness!

Transliteration

Qassaman Binnazilat Ilmahiqat
Waddimaa Izzakiyat Ittahirat
Walbonood Illamiaat Ilkhafiqat
F'Iljibal Ishshamikhat Ishshahiqat
Nahno Thurna Fahayaton Aw ma maaat
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!

Nahno min Abtalina Nadfaoo Jonda
Wa Ala Ashlaina Nassnaoo Magda.
Wa Ala Hamatina Narfao Bandaa.
Gabhato' 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!

An extra verse

The following verse used to also be part of the anthem, but is no longer:
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!

O France, the time of reproof is over
And we have ended it as a book is ended;
O France, this is the day of reckoning
So prepare to receive from us our answer!
In our revolution is the end of empty talk;
We are resolved that Algeria shall live -
So be our witness -be our witness -be our witness!

External links

• Lyrics in Arabic (http://www.algeria-un.org/images/anthem/arabic.jpg)
• MP3 File (http://www.national-anthems.net/files/2120_MP3_6b5cfb497c35e647d91850df6dd59aa0/algeriaX.mp3)