Afghan National Anthem

National anthem (1926–1943)

Former national anthem of  Afghanistan
Adopted	1926
Relinquished	1943
Audio sample
file help

Afghanistan's first national anthem was adopted during its period as a monarchy. It was instrumental and had no lyrics.^[3]

National anthem (1943–1973)

English: Grand Salute
Pashto: Loya Salami
Former national anthem of  Afghanistan
Lyrics	Mohammed Makhtar, 1943
Music	Mohammed Farukh, 1943
Adopted	1943
Relinquished	1973
Audio sample
"Grand Salute" file help

This was Afghanistan's second national anthem, during when it was a monarchy.^[4]

National anthem (1973–1978)

Pashto: ملی سرود
Dari: سرود ملی

English: National Anthem
Pashto: Milli Surood Dari: Surūd-e Millī
Former national anthem of  Afghanistan
Lyrics	Abdul Rauf Benawa, 1973
Music	Abdul Ghafoor Breshna, 1973
Adopted	1973
Relinquished	1978
Audio sample
Millī Surūd ملي سرود‬ "The National Anthem" file help

A national anthem was adopted in 1973 after the abolition of the Afghan monarchy, when the Republic of Afghanistan was set up by President Daoud Khan. Its lyrics were written by Abdul Rauf Benawa and the music was composed by Abdul Ghafoor Breshna.^[5]

National anthem (1978–1992)

Pashto: ملی سرود
Dari: سرود ملی

English: National Anthem
Pashto: Milli Surood Dari: Surūd-e Millī
Former national anthem of  Afghanistan
Also known as	"Garam shah lā garam shah" (English: "Be Ardent, Be More Ardent")
Lyrics	Sulaiman Layeq
Music	Jalil Zaland, 1978
Adopted	1978
Relinquished	1992
Audio sample
Millī Surūd ملي سرود‬ "National Anthem" file help

Another national anthem was adopted after the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan was set up in 1978. Its lyrics were written by Sulaiman Layeq on behalf of the government of the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA) headed by Nur Muhammad Taraki, who decided to change the national symbols after the Marxist coup d'état of 1978.^[6][7][8] The music was composed by Jalīl Ghahlānd and was arranged by Ustad Salim Sarmad.^[9][10] It is known alternatively by the title of "Garam shah lā garam shah" (English: "Be Ardent, Be More Ardent"), which is also the song's incipit. Like many national anthems, it was sometimes sung abbreviated with only the chorus and the first stanza. In 1987, Afghanistan officially abandoned communism but this song was kept as the national anthem until 1992, when it was discontinued.

National anthem (1992–2006)

Pashto: ملی سرود
Dari: سرود ملی

English: National Anthem
Pashto: Milli Surood Dari: Surūd-e Millī
Former national anthem of  Afghanistan
Also known as	قلعه اسلام قلب اسیا (English: "Fortress of Islam, Heart of Asia")
Music	Ustad Qasim, 1919
Adopted	1992
Relinquished	May 2006
Audio sample
Millī Surūd ملي سرود‬ "The National Anthem" file help

From 1992 to 2006, Afghanistan used a song composed in 1919 by Ustad Qasim as its national anthem.^[11][12][13] It is also known alternatively by the title "Fortress of Islam, Heart of Asia" (Persian: قلعه اسلام قلب اسیا‎), which is also the song's incipit.^[14][15][16]

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 and the UN-recognized government was re-instituted. The song was reintroduced by the new transitional government of Afghanistan in 2002;^[17] it remained such when the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan was established in 2004 and was used until 2006.^[18][19]