Ala Khallidi

"’Alā Khallidī" (Arabic: ألا خلّدي) was the national anthem of Tunisia from 1958 to 1987. It was used during the Presidency of Habib Bourguiba until his downfall in 1987. Humat al-Hima was temporarily a national anthem between the end of the monarchy on 25 July 1957 and the adoption of Ala Khallidi as the official national anthem. In 1958, the Ministry of Education organized a competition, in which 53 poets and 23 musicians took part. The results were examined first by a commission of the Board of Education, which selected the submissions of the hymn poet Jalaleddine Naccache (1910–1989) and the composer and director of the Conservatoire of Tunis Salah El Mahdi (1925-2014). The works were presented to the president without announcing the selection that already been made. He selected the same version as the commission had. To be completely sure, officials held another larger popular assembly in Monastir, the birth city of the president, where all 23 melodies were played. The song by Naccache and El Mahdi won, and the nation formally adopted it on 20 March, Tunisia's Independence Day, that year.

Humat al-Hima replaced Ala Khallidi following the coup which brought Zine El Abidine Ben Ali to power on 7 November 1987.

Lyrics

Arabic lyrics	Transliteration	English translation
ألا خلّدي يا دمانا الغوالي جهاد الوطن لتحرير خضرائنا لا نبالي بأقسى المحن جهاد تحلّى بنصر مبين على الغاصبين على الظالمين طغاة الزمن نخوض اللهيب بروح الحبيب زعيم الوطن أرى الحكم للشعب فابنوا لنا من المجد أعلى صروح تشاد أجيبوا أجيبوا لأوطاننا نداء اﻷخوة والاتحاد وذودوا العدى عن حمى أرضنا وكونوا أسودا ليوم الجلاد   ورثنا الجلاد ومجد النضال وفي أرضنا مصرع الغاصبين وصالت أساطيلنا في النزال تموج بأبطالنا الفاتحين لواء الكفاح بهذا الشمال رفعناه يوم الفدى باليمين   شباب العلى عزّنا بالحمى وعزّ الحمى بالشباب العتيد لنا همّة طالت اﻷنجما تعيد المعالي وتبني الجديد فحيّوا اللّوا خافقا في السّما بعزّ وفخر ونصر مجيد	Chorus: ’Alā khallidī yā dimānā al-ghawālī Jihād al-waṭan Li-taḥrīri khaḍrā’inā lā nubālī Bi-’aqsá al-miḥan Jihādun taḥallá bi-naṣrin mubīn ‘Alá al-ghāṣibīn ‘alá aẓ-ẓālimīn Ṭughāt iz-zaman Nakhūḍ ul-lahīb bi-rūḥ il-Ḥabīb Za‘īm il-waṭan ’Ará al-ḥukma li-sh-sha‘bi fa-abnū lanā Min al-majdi ’a‘lá ṣurūḥin tushād ’Ajībū ’ajībū li-’awṭāninā Nidā’ al-’ukhuwwati wa-al-ittiḥād Wa-dhūdū ul-‘idá ‘an ḥimá ’arḍinā Wa-kūnū ’usūdan li-yawm il-jilād Chorus Wa-rithnā al-jilāda wa-majd an-niḍāl Wa-fī ’arḍinā maṣra‘ ul-ghāṣibīn Wa-ṣālat ’asāṭīlunā fi in-nizāl Tamūju bi-’abṭālinā al-fātiḥīn Liwā’ ul-kifāḥi bi-hadhā ash-shamāl Rafa‘nāhu yawm al-fidá bi-il-yamīn Chorus Shabāb ul-‘ulá ‘izzunā bi-l-ḥimá Wa-‘izzu ul-ḥimá bi-sh-shabāb il-‘atīd Lanā himmatun ṭālat il-’anjumā Tu‘īd ul-ma‘āli wa-tabnī il-jadīd Faḥayyū ul-liwā khāfiqan fi-s-samā Bi-‘izzin wa-fakhrin wa-naṣrin majīd Chorus	Chorus: Immortal and precious the blood we have shed for our dear fatherland. In order to free our green land any hardship we gladly will stand. The fight is made sweet by a victory sure, Removing the yoke we've had to endure. The fire we confront as faithful we keep The spirit of our great leader Habib.   The people are sov'reign and so let us raise Of glory a citadel for all to see. O answer, O answer our fatherland's call To true brotherhood and to true unity. Be ready, like lions prepared for the fight, Defending our country from each enemy. Chorus The glory and fight we inherit today. Oppressors were fought here on this battleground. Our legions in fury attacked in the field, As heroes in waves let their war-cries resound. The banner of war in the North we have raised, By oath we to ransom our land all are bound. Chorus O noble the youth, our defence you assure, Defending our honour, as ready you be. Our strong aspirations reach up to the sky That greatness return and a new day we see. The flag, as it waves in the sky, now salute With honour and glory and great victory. Chorus