The Sherifian national anthem, commonly known as Al nashid al-sharif, embodies the enduring motto of the nation: God, the homeland, and the king. This trio forms the spiritual compass of Morocco and serves as a cultural touchstone that resonates through national rituals and everyday life alike.
Following Morocco’s dramatic quarterfinal victory over Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, the team advanced to the semifinals and began to push into the spotlight as a squad at the peak of its form. The hope was then to reach the final on December 18 by challenging the defending champions, France, in a match that would define the tournament’s narrative for the host nation and its supporters. In the lead-up to that pivotal fixture, insights into the country’s anthem reveal how deeply national identity is woven into sport and history.
In this context, the anthem’s story is told with care, noting that it was selected by a prominent British publication as one of the top five World Cup anthems in the Russia edition, a distinction that adds international recognition to a piece integral to Moroccan culture.
Known as Al nashid al-sharif, or the Sherifian anthem, it was authored by the poet Ali Squalli Houssaini and set to music by Léo Morgan, who once led the Royal Guard’s musical direction, in 1956, the year of Morocco’s independence. The most recent lyric revision occurred in 1970 under the initiative of King Hassan II and received official status during the reign of his son Mohammed VI in 2005. The anthem’s text is drawn from a lyric poem that venerates the country’s three pillars—God, the Fatherland, and the King—an allegiance symbolized by their inscription on the hill overlooking the historic kasbah of Agadir.
What does the text say in Spanish?
The cradle of free men, a light that never fades, a land of sovereignty and lasting peace. May sovereignty and peace bind together forever. You have lived among nations like a noble title, giving heart and breath to a people. Your champion rose to meet the call, and in word and blood your love ignited light and embers. Brothers, let us go to the top, and declare to the world that this is where we live under the flag of God, the country, and the king.
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