They traversed to Allah’s sanctuary
Answering His divine call of glory
From lands far and near to the qibla
Algerians marching against new imperialism
Supported by Afghans against Marxism
In partnership with Egyptians against atheism
Are brothers to Nigerian unbelievers in secularism
All in alliance with Bosnian muslims
Who are victims and martyrs of ethnocentrisms
For that is the call of monotheism
Here I am at your service, O lord, here I am
Suffer they did from torns and trials
Shivering from the extremes of cold
And burnt by the pricks of sunshine
But it was suffering transient
Seeking for Allah’s everlasting rahma
Here I am. No partner do you have
Clad uniformly in white, solidified
Pure, peaceful, powerful and forceful
Pure and humble before their lord, submitting
Peaceful amongst themselves, loving
Powerful against oppression, revolting
Forceful against falsehood, rejecting
Here I am. Truly, the praise and the favour is yours
And the dominion. No partner do you have.
Abba Gana Shettima
EDITOR’S NOTE
Originally published in Citizen on 28 Jun 1993, p. 31. This diplomatic transcription preserves the wording and lineation visible in the archived page.