# Fortress of Islam, Heart of Asia

National anthems of Afghanistan :
| "Amani Anthem" | 1926–1943 |
| "Grand Salute" | 1943–1973 |
| "So long as there is Earth and Heaven" | 1973–1978 |
| "Be Ardent, Be More Ardent" | 1978–1992 |
| "Fortress of Islam, Heart of Asia" | 1992–1996 |
| "This Is the Home of the Brave" | 1996–2001 |
| "Fortress of Islam, Heart of Asia" | 2001–2006 |
| "Afghan National Anthem" | 2006–2021 |
| "This Is the Home of the Brave" | 2021– |
vte :
"Fortress of Islam, Heart of Asia" is an Afghan mujahideen battle song composed in 1919 by Ustad Qasim. It was adopted as the national anthem of the Islamic State of Afghanistan from 1992 to 2006.

## History

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

| Dari lyrics | Romanization of Persian | English translation |
| قلعه اسلام قلب آسیا جاویدان آزاد خاک آریا زادگاه قهرمانان بزرگ سنگر رزمنده مردان خدا الله اکبر الله اکبر الله اکبر 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 هر خط قران نظام ما بود پرچم ایمان به بام ما بود هم صدا و هم نوا با هم روان وحدت ملی مرام مابود الله اکبر الله اکبر الله اکبر شاد زی ازاد زی اباد زی ای وطن در نور قانون خدا مشعل آزادگی را بر فراز مردم سر گشته راشو رهنما الله اکبر الله اکبر الله اکبر | Qal’a-yi Islām, qalb-i Āsiyā, Jāwēdān āzād, xāk-e Āriyā, Zādgāh-i qahramānān-i buzurg, Sangar-i razminda mardān-i Xudā Allāhu akbar, Allāhu akbar, Allāhu akbar. Tēǧ-i īmān-aš ba maydān-i jihād, Band-i istibdād-rā az ham gusast Millat-i āzāda-yi Afğānistān Dar jihān zanjīr-u mahkūmān šekast. Allāhu akbar, Allāhu akbar, Allāhu akbar. Har xatt-i Qur’ān nizām-i mā buwad, Parčam-i īmān ba bām-i mā buwad, Hamsadā u-hamnawā bā ham rawān, Wahdat-i millī marām-i mā buwad. Allāhu akbar, Allāhu akbar, Allāhu akbar. Šād zī, āzād zī, ābād zī, Ay watan dar nūr-i qānūn-i Xudā. Maš’al-i āzādagī-rā bar farāz, Mardum-i sargušta-rā šaw rahnamā. Allāhu akbar, Allāhu akbar, Allāhu 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! Arrow of her 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! Let the lines of the Qur'an 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! Live happy, live free, live and 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! |