"" (also transliterated as ""; dv, ޤައުމީ ސަލާމް , "National Salute") is the

national anthem A national anthem is a patriotic musical composition symbolizing and evoking eulogies of the history and traditions of a country or nation. The majority of national anthems are marches or hymns in style. American, Central Asian, and Europea ...

of the

Maldives Maldives (, ; dv, ދިވެހިރާއްޖެ, translit=Dhivehi Raajje, ), officially the Republic of Maldives ( dv, ދިވެހިރާއްޖޭގެ ޖުމްހޫރިއްޔާ, translit=Dhivehi Raajjeyge Jumhooriyyaa, label=none, ), is an archipelag ...

. The lyrics were written by

Muhammad Jameel Didi Al Sheikh Muhammed Jameel Didi ( dv, މުޙައްމަދު ޖަމީލުދީދީ; May 1, 1915 – March 15, 1989), popularly known as Jameel Didi'','' was a Maldivian political figure and poet who was famous for his writings and speeches. He was ...

in 1948, and the melody was composed by

Sri Lanka Sri Lanka (, ; si, ශ්‍රී ලංකා, Śrī Laṅkā, translit-std=ISO (); ta, இலங்கை, Ilaṅkai, translit-std=ISO ()), formerly known as Ceylon and officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, is an ...

n maestro Pandit Amaradeva in 1972. "Qaumii Salaam" is a declaration of national unity, the country's Islamic faith, the victory of

historic History (derived ) is the systematic study and the documentation of the human activity. The time period of event before the invention of writing systems is considered prehistory. "History" is an umbrella term comprising past events as well ...

battles and an homage to the heroes who fell defending the nation. It also wishes further development on the country, while paying respect to the leaders who had served it.

History

Until 1948, a melody without lyrics called the was performed by a royal band on state occasions at the , the residence of the

Sultan Sultan (; ar, سلطان ', ) is a position with several historical meanings. Originally, it was an Arabic abstract noun meaning "strength", "authority", "rulership", derived from the verbal noun ', meaning "authority" or "power". Later, it c ...

. Soon after, it was decided that the needed lyrics accompanied by a new melody. The lyrics were written by a young poet and later chief justice, Mohamed Jameel Didi. Jameel Didi wrote the words for the new bearing in mind the influence of

Urdu Urdu (;"Urdu"
'' Arabic Arabic (, ' ; , ' or ) is a Semitic language spoken primarily across the Arab world.Semitic languages: an international handbook / edited by Stefan Weninger; in collaboration with Geoffrey Khan, Michael P. Streck, Janet C. E.Watson; Walter ...

. Afterwards, Jameel Didi began looking for a tune to accompany his poem when he heard the noon chime ("

Auld Lang Syne "Auld Lang Syne" (: note "s" rather than "z") is a popular song, particularly in the English-speaking world. Traditionally, it is sung to bid farewell to the old year at the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve. By extension, it is also often ...

") of his uncle's clock. The tune was adopted to the lyrics, and the new was complete. Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, Maldivians became more aware of the importance of a national anthem, and in 1972, shortly before the Maldives was visited by Queen

Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April 1926 – 8 September 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until her death in 2022. She was queen regnant of 32 sovereign states during ...

, the government hastily commissioned Sri Lankan maestro W. D. Amaradeva for a new melody for the anthem. The original lyrics were retained, with a few changes to emphasise the fact that Maldives had been a republic since 1968. , this version of the anthem has survived without any modifications.

Lyrics

Normally, only the chorus and first two verses are sung.

Notes

References

External links

* Th
Maldives Royal Family
website has a page on the anthem, including a midi file version.
archive link

Streaming audio of the national anthem of the Maldives, with information and lyricsarchive link
{{National anthems of Asia Maldivian music National symbols of the Maldives National anthem compositions in D-flat major