Fortress of Islam, Heart of Asia

Pashto: Milli Surood
Dari: Surūd-e Millī

English: National Anthem
Pashto: ملی سرود Dari: سرود ملی
File:Former national anthem of Afghanistan, 1992-2006.png
Former national anthem of Afghanistan
Also known as	قلعه اسلام قلب اسیا (English: "Fortress of Islam, Heart of Asia")
Lyrics	Daoud Farani
Music	Ustad Qasim, 1919
Adopted	1992 (1992)
Readopted	2002 (2002)
Relinquished	1999 (1999), 2006 (2006)
Preceded by	"Garam shah lā garam shah"
Succeeded by	"Millī Surūd"
Audio sample
transl. ur – transl. ALA-LC ملي سرود "The National Anthem" file help

"Fortress of Islam, Heart of Asia" (Dari: قلعه اسلام قلب اسیا, romanized: Qal’a-ye islām, qalb-e Āsiya) is an Afghan mujahideen battle song composed in 1919 by Ustad Qasim. It was adopted as the national anthem of Afghanistan from 1992 to 1999 and from 2002 to 2006.

During the late 1990s, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan under the Taliban took control over most of Afghanistan from the UN-recognized government and ruled most of the country until late 2001. The Taliban outlawed music throughout the territory that they controlled, which consisted of most of the country. As such, most of Afghanistan practically was left without a national anthem during that time, until late 2001 when the Taliban was overthrown. The song was reintroduced by the new transitional government of Afghanistan in 2002; it remained such when the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan was established in 2004 and was used by the latter until 2006.

Lyrics

Ustad Qasim, the composer

Dari lyrics	Dari transliteration	English translation
First stanza
قلعه اسلام قلب اسیا جاویدان ازاد خاک اریا زادگاه قهرمانان بزرگ سنگر رزمنده مردان خدا الله اکبر الله اکبر الله اکبر	Qalaye Islâm, qalbe Âsiyâ, Jâvidân âzâd khâke Âriyâ, Zâdgâhe qahramânâne bozorg, Sangare râzmandeye mardâne Khodâ Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar.	Fortress of Islam, heart of Asia, Forever free, soil of the Aryans, Birthplace of great heroes Fellow traveler of the warriors of the men of God, God is great! God is great! God is great!
Second stanza
تیغ ایمانش به میدان جهاد بند استبداد را از هم گسست ملت ازاده افغانستان در جهان زنجیر محکومان شکست الله اکبر الله اکبر الله اکبر	Tighe imânash be meydâne Jihâd, Bande estebdâdrâ az ham gozašt Mellate âzâde Afghânistân Dar jahân zanjire mahkumân šekest. Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar.	Arrow of His faith to the arena of Jihad, Removing the shackles of suppression, The nation of freedom, Afghanistan, Breaks the chains of the oppressed in the world. God is great! God is great! God is great!
Third stanza
هر خط قران نظام ما بود پرچم ایمان به بام مابود هم صدا و هم نوا با هم روان وحدت ملی مرام ما بود الله اکبر الله اکبر الله اکبر	Sare khatte Qur’ân nizâme mâ bovad, Parchame imân be bâme ma bovad, Ham sedâ o ham navâ ba ham ravân, Vahdate melli murâme mâ bovad. Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar.	Let the lines of the Quran be our order, Let the banner of faith be on our roof, With the echoes and the voices going together, Let national unity be what we strive for, God is great! God is great! God is great!
Fourth stanza
شاد زی ازاد زی اباد زی ای وطن در نور قانون خدا مشعل آزادگی را برفراز مردم سرگشته راشو رهنما الله اکبر الله اکبر الله اکبر	Šad zey, âzâd zey, âbâd zey, Ey vatan dar nu-e qânune Khoda. Maš’ale âzâdegira bar firâz, Mardome sargoshtera shou rahnamâ. Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar.	Live happy, live free, live prosper, Oh homeland in the light of God’s law, Lift the torch of freedom high, Become a leader for the people who are oppressed, God is great! God is great! God is great!