Ibrahim Khafaji

Ibrahim Khafaji is a poet who was tasked with writing the words of the Saudi national anthem during the reign of King Fahd bin Abdulaziz; his words were adopted to the original melody of the Royal Salute in 1984, so the national anthem was completed in its current form. [1]

A royal order was issued on the first of July 1984 adopting the national anthem and broadcasting it officially on radio and television. [1]

The history of the Saudi national anthem began with the composition of the first melody of the Royal Salute in 1365 AH, corresponding to 1946, and the Saudi poet Mohammed Talat wrote in 1377 AH, corresponding to 1958, a piece dedicated to the reception during the historic visit of King Saud bin Abdulaziz to the city of Taif. [1]

The Royal Salute continued to be played to the same music without words during the reign of King Faisal bin Abdulaziz, until King Khalid bin Abdulaziz directed that a project be launched to prepare a national anthem to accompany the melody, but his death prevented its implementation. [1]

The national anthem project was reintroduced during the reign of King Fahd bin Abdulaziz, and the task was assigned to the poet Ibrahim Khafaji. [1]

Khafaji wrote a text marked by permanence and timelessness, observing the legal and ethical aspects, so that it is suited to every time and place, and the composer Siraj Omar provided his artistic arrangement of the words to the original melody of the Royal Salute. [1]

The national anthem opens with the phrase "Sarei lil Majd wal Aliya" (Hasten to glory and supremacy) and closes with the phrase "Ashi al-Malik lil-Alam wal-Watan" (Long live the King for the flag and the homeland). [1]

The opening of the words of the national anthem reads, "Sarei lil Majd wal Aliya, Majjidi li Khaliq al-Sama" (Hasten to glory and supremacy, glorify the Creator of the sky), and the text was then completed to the original melody of the Royal Salute. [1]

Q: Who is Ibrahim Khafaji? A: He is a poet who was tasked with writing the words of the Saudi national anthem during the reign of King Fahd bin Abdulaziz.

Q: When was the Saudi national anthem completed in its current form? A: It was completed in 1984, with the adoption of the words of Ibrahim Khafaji to the original melody of the Royal Salute.

Q: When was the royal order issued adopting the national anthem and broadcasting it? A: It was issued on the first of July 1984, and the anthem was broadcast officially on radio and television.

Q: With what does the national anthem open and with what does it close? A: It opens with the phrase "Sarei lil Majd wal Aliya" and closes with the phrase "Ashi al-Malik lil-Alam wal-Watan".

Q: Who provided the artistic arrangement of the words of the national anthem? A: The composer Siraj Omar provided it for the words to the original melody of the Royal Salute.