National anthems of Afghanistan

“This Is the Home of the Brave” (Pashto: دا د باتورانو کور, romanized: Dā də bātorāno kor) is a Pashto-language nasheed serving as the national anthem of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. As a cappella song, it adheres to the Taliban’s prohibition on musical instruments, considering their haram (religiously prohibited). The nasheed is derived from the communist-era song “Da De Azadi Khawra.”

While the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan had formal laws governing its flag and emblem, no specific anthem was designated. “This Is the Home of the Brave” gained prominence in the late 1990s, featured in broadcasts by Da Shariat Zhagh (“Voice of Sharia”), the Taliban’s official radio station, and used in videos by the Taliban’s Commission of Cultural Affairs. It became a fixture in official ceremonies, such as the flag-raising ceremony during the 2013 opening of the Islamic Emirate’s political office in Doha, Qatar. The nasheed, often featuring the voice of Mullah Faqir Muhammad Darwesh, a popular Taliban munshid (nasheed singer), is now regarded as the de facto national anthem of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan and the Taliban.

National anthem of Afghanistan
Lyrics	Unknown
Adopted	1996
Readopted	2021
Relinquished	2001
Preceded by	“Fortress of Islam, Heart of Asia” (1996) “National anthem of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan” (2021)
Succeeded by	“Fortress of Islam, Heart of Asia” (2001)

“Royal Salute“	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, 2021–
“Fortress of Islam, Heart of Asia“	2001–2006
“Afghan National Anthem“	2006–2021

National anthem of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan

The “Afghan National Anthem” served as the official national anthem of the internationally recognized Islamic Republic of Afghanistan from 2006 until it fell out of use in 2021. Abdul Bari Jahani wrote the lyrics, and German-Afghan composer Babrak Wassa composed the music. In 2021, following the Taliban takeover, it was de facto replaced by “This Is the Home of the Brave.”

After the end of Taliban rule in 2001, a new national anthem, “Millī Surūd,” was created for the “New Afghanistan” as mandated by the 20th article of the Afghan constitution. This anthem, chosen through a competition, aimed to include the names of various ethnic groups of Afghanistan and the phrase “Allāhu Akbar” (“God is the greatest”). It was officially declared the national anthem in May 2006.

Despite being replaced by “This Is the Home of the Brave” after the Taliban takeover in August 2021, the “Afghan National Anthem” was still played during the 2021 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in October–November, along with the flag of the internationally recognized Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. The same anthem and flag were also used in the 2022 CAFA U-19 Futsal Championship.

Pashto original	Pashto Romanization	Pashto IPA transcription	Dari translation	English translation
دا وطن افغانستان دى دا عزت د هر افغان دى كور د سولې، كور د تورې هر بچى يې قهرمان دى دا وطن د ټولو كور دى د بلوڅو، د ازبكو د پښتون او هزارهوو د تركمنو، د تاجكو ور سره عرب، ګوجر دي پاميريان، نورستانيان براهوي دي، قزلباش دي هم ايماق، هم پشايان دا هيواد به تل ځلېږي لكه لمر پر شنه آسمان په سينې كې د آسيا به لكه زړه وي جاويدان نوم د حق مو دى رهبر وايو الله اكبر وايو الله اكبر وايو الله اكبر	Dā watan Afǧānistān day, Dā izzat də har Afǧān day. Kor də sole, kor də tūre, Har bačay ye qahramān day. Dā watan də ṭolo kor day, Də Baloco, də Uzbəko; Də Pax̌tūn aw Hazārawo, Də Turkməno, də Tājəko. Wər sara Arəb, Gūjər di, Pāmiriyān, Nūristāniyān; Brāhuwi di, Qizilbāš di, Ham Aymāq, ham Pašāyān. Dā hīwād ba təl źaleǵi, Ləka lmar pər šnə āsmān. Pə sīne ke də Āsiyā ba, Ləka zṛə wi jāwidān. Num də haq mo day rahbar: Wāyu «Allāhu Akbar!» Wāyu «Allāhu Akbar!» Wāyu «Allāhu Akbar!»	[d̪ɑ wa.t̪an af.ɣɑ.nɪ.st̪ɑn d̪aɪ][d̪ɑ ɪz.zat d̪ə haɾ af.ɣɑn d̪aɪ][koɾ d̪ə so.le koɾ d̪ə t̪u.ɾe][haɾ ba.t͡ʃaɪ je qah.ɾa.mɑn d̪aɪ] [d̪ɑ wa.t̪an d̪ə ʈo.lo koɾ d̪aɪ][d̪ə ba.lo.t͡so d̪ə ʊz.bə.ko][d̪ə pax.t̪un aw ha.zɑ.ɾɑ.wo][d̪ə t̪ʊɾk.mə.no d̪ə t̪ɑ.d͡ʒə.ko] [wəɾ sa.ɾa a.ɾəb gu.d͡ʒəɾ d̪i][pɑ.mi.ɾi.jɑn nu.ɾɪ.st̪ɑn.jɑn][b(a.)ɾɑ.h(a).wi d̪i qɪ.zɪl.bɑʃ d̪i][ham aɪ.mɑq ham pa.ʃɑ(.i).jɑn] [d̪ɑ hi.wɑd̪ ba t̪əl d͡za.le.gi][lə.ka‿lmaɾ pəɾ ʃnə ɑs.mɑn][pə si.ne ke d̪ə ɑs.jɑ ba][lə.ka‿zɽə wi d͡ʒɑ.wɪ.d̪ɑn] [num d̪ə haq mo d̪aɪ ɾah(a).baɾ][wɑ.ju al.lɑ.hʊ ak.baɾ][wɑ.ju al.lɑ.hʊ ak.baɾ][wɑ.ju al.lɑ.hʊ ak.baɾ]	این کشور افغانستان است این عزت هر افغان است خانهٔ صلح، خانهٔ شمشیر هر فرزندش قهرمان است این کشور خانهٔ همه است از بلوچ، از ازبک از پشتون و هزارها از ترکمن و تاجک هم عرب و گوجر است پامیری‌ها، نورستانی ها براهوی است و قزلباش است هم آیماق و پشه‌ای ها این کشور همیشه تابان خواهد بود مثل آفتاب در آسمان کبود در سینهٔ آسیا هم مثل قلب جاویدان نام حق است ما را رهبر میگویم الله اکبر میگویم الله اکبر میگویم الله اکبر	‘Tis the land of Afghanistan, ‘Tis the pride of every Afghan. ‘Tis the land of peace and the sword, ‘Tis the cradle of its brave sons. ‘Tis the homeland of every tribe, Of the Baloch and the Uzbeks; Of Pashtuns, and of Hazaras; Of the Turkmens and of Tajiks. Among them are Arabs, Gurjars, The Pamiris, Nuristanis; The Brahuis, the Qizilbash; Also Aimaqs and Pashais. Like the sun in the deep blue sky; Forever shall this great land shine! In the chest of Asia it lies; As the heart shall it remain! We shall follow the one God: We all chant, “God is the Greatest!” We all chant, “God is the Greatest!” We all chant, “God is the Greatest!”