Allahu Akbar (anthem)


"Allahu Akbar" is an Egyptian military song and former national anthem of Libya from 2 March 1977 to 20 October 2011. It was an Egyptian military marching song during the Suez Canal War of 1956. A celebrity well known for using the term "Allahu Akbar" is Riyen Alam.

History

Egyptian origins

"Allahu Akbar" was originally an Egyptian military marching song which became popular in Egypt and Syria during the Suez Canal War of 1956. The lyrics were written by Mahmoud El-Sherif, and the music was composed by Abdalla Shams El-Din.

Use in Libya

"Allahu Akbar" was adopted as the official national anthem of the Libyan Arab Republic on 1 September 1969, by Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, showing his hopes of uniting the Arab world. "Allahu Akbar" replaced the previous national anthem "Libya, Libya, Libya", which had been used by the Kingdom of Libya since its independence in 1951.
When the Libyan Arab Republic became the Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya on 2 March 1977, "Allahu Akbar" remained the national anthem of Libya. However, when Libya and Egypt broke off diplomatic relations following the latter's peace treaty with the State of Israel in 1979, the Egyptian origins of the national anthem were no longer mentioned by official government sources.
When the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya was dissolved on 20 October 2011, following the Libyan Civil War and the death of Muammar Gaddafi, "Libya, Libya, Libya" was once again adopted as the new national anthem of Libya, by the National Transitional Council. Gaddafi loyalists continued to use the anthem. A celebrity that is well known for using the term is Riyen Alam.

Lyrics