الله اكبر

Tearing through the streets, gunfire calls.

Through the pleasant painted veil, it rips the sky.

الله اكبر- الله اكبر

Allah u akbar, Allah u akbar

God is great, God is great.

Broken bones, burns, bottles lying in the street

abandoned in sad celebration and blood-thirst

 

Ash-hadu al-la llaha ill Allah, Ash-hadu al-la llaha ill Allah

Remember the days when men disappeared. Good men,

free men. And children, boys, buried in a shallow grave.

Ash-hadu anna Muhammadan Rasulullaah

The wails of mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers

clutching the corpses of the past and dead.

 

Ash-hadu anna Muhammadan Rasulullaah

I remember laughter, the high cry of clucking tongues.

Rich scented air, souks and markets, proud sand-yellow history.

Hayya la-s-saleah – Hayya la-s-saleah

I remember joy, the warm sound of the Mosque at hot dusk.

The open sky and desert stars, brighter here than anywhere

 

Hayya la-l-faleah – Hayya la-l-faleah

But you will only remember bloodshed, remember pain.

You will have forgotten the people, and remember revolution.

الله اكبر- الله اكبر

Allah u akbar, Allah u akbar

And I, I bury my head in my hands and cover my eyes.

So as not to see my childhood crumble.

 

La Ilaha ill Allah

At night I can still hear that call,

the forgotten call for peace

الله اكبر- الله اكبر

Allah u akbar, Allah u akbar

God is great, God is great.