The National Anthem of Saudi Arabia (النشيد الوطني السعودي) was first officially adopted in 1950 and then again in 1984 with a change in lyrics. The original composition was by Abdul-Rahman al-Khateeb (عبد الرحمن الخطيب) in 1947 and the brass instrumental version was later arranged by Seraj Omar (سراج عمر). The original lyrics (1950) were written by Mohammed Talat (محمد طلعت) while the new lyrics (1984) were written by Ibrahim Khafaji (إبراهيم خفاجي).

It is referred to simply as The National Anthem (النشيد الوطني an-Našīd al-Waṭaniyy), although Sārʿī (سارعي) is a common name for the lyrics, taken from the first verse (سارعي للمجد والعلياء Sārʿī lil-maǧdi wal-ʿalyāʾ) "Hasten to glory and supremacy!" The instrumental version is called the Royal Salute (السلام الملكي as-Salām al-Malakiyy) which is also the name of the ceremony in which it is played to salute senior members of the royal family as well as diplomatic figures.

The lyrics call upon the country to hasten to greatness and raise the flag, glorifies God

God

God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....

 and asks Him to grant the King of Saudi Arabia long life.

Lyrics

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Sārʿī

Li-l-maǧdi wa-l-ʿalyāʾ,

Maǧǧidī li-ḫāliqi s-samāʾ!

Wa-rfaʿī l-ḫaffāqa ʾaḫḍar

Yaḥmilu n-nūra l-musaṭṭar

Raddidī: Allāhu ʾakbar,

Yā mawṭinī!

Mawṭinī,

ʿIšta faḫra l-muslimīn

ʿĀša l-malīk

Li-l-ʿalám

Wa-l-waṭán!

||

Hasten

To glory and supremacy,

Glorify the Creator of the heavens!

And raise the green flag

Carrying the written light reflecting Guidance

Shahada

The Shahada , means "to know and believe without suspicion, as if witnessed"/testification; it is the name of the Islamic creed. The shahada is the Muslim declaration of belief in the oneness of God and acceptance of Muhammad as God's prophet...

,

Repeat: God

God in Islam

In Islamic theology, God is the all-powerful and all-knowing creator, sustainer, ordainer, and judge of the universe. Islam puts a heavy emphasis on the conceptualization of God as strictly singular . God is unique and inherently One , all-merciful and omnipotent. According to the Islamic...

is the greatest!

O my country!

My country,

Live as the glory of Muslims!

Long live the King

For the flag

And the homeland!

External links

• The Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Washington, DC has an Audio page that includes the National Anthem in both vocal and instrumental versions.