Tuesday’s Turkish Tradition: Turkish National Anthem

The İstiklâl Marşı, translated Independence March in English, is the national anthem of the Republic of Turkey. It was officially adopted March 12, 1921, two and a half years before the republic was founded, both as a motivational music for the army fighting the Turkish War for Independence and an aspirational for the Republic that was yet to be established. It was penned by Mehmet Âkif Ersoy, and ultimately composed by Osman Zeki Üngör, the theme is one of affection for the Turkish homeland, freedom, and faith, as well as praise for the virtues of hope, devotion, and sacrifice in the pursuit of liberty. It has ten verses but only two of them are sung.  Below is the national anthem in both Turkish and translated into English.

 

Korkma, sönmez bu şafaklarda yüzen al sancak;
Sönmeden yurdumun üstünde tüten en son ocak.
O benim milletimin yıldızıdır, parlayacak;
O benimdir, o benim milletimindir ancak.
Çatma, kurban olayım çehreni ey nazlı hilâl!
Kahraman ırkıma bir gül! Ne bu şiddet bu celâl?
Sana olmaz dökülen kanlarımız sonra helâl,
Hakkıdır, Hakk’a tapan, milletimin istiklâl!
Fear not; For the crimson banner that proudly ripples in this glorious dawn, shall not fade,
Before the last fiery hearth that is ablaze within my homeland is extinguished.
For that is the star of my people, and it will forever shine;
It is mine; and solely belongs to my valiant nation.
Frown not, I beseech you, oh thou coy crescent!
Smile upon my heroic nation! Why the anger, why the rage?
Our blood which we shed for you shall not be worthy otherwise;
For freedom is the absolute right of my God-worshipping nation!

Will you pray for us as we try to get to Turkey as quickly as possible to take the truth of the gospel to them? We want the last line of the national anthem to be true in Turkey where they really do worship the one true God and know Him as their Saviour!

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