Lately some people, knowingly or not, have taken to blaming the Uzbek people. This saddens us. Moreover,…

Lately some people, knowingly or not, have taken to blaming the Uzbek people. This saddens us. Moreover, there are those who go abroad and throw stones at the Homeland; their aim is to disgrace the land and its people with insulting words. These lines were written as an answer to such people, and also as an appeal to our young people who go about not knowing their own identity, so that they are not deceived by the propaganda of outsiders, and to the generation to come. May my God make it good and blessed!

The author.

For a thousand years, bearer of the banner of glory and splendor, An invincible army amid great battles! A sacrifice for the truth, a seeker of the Truth, Drawing strength from the Truth, ever victorious!

Never once turning back from the path of justice, Courage and valor its innate qualities! Never casting so much as a glance at wealth and rank, The tyrant's terror, the bane of oppression!

It raised knowledge and enlightenment overhead, When it wielded the sword, enemies stood stunned. On every single leaf and every single stone It looked with love and compassion, caring!

It lavished all it had upon a guest, It did not spare its life for a friend. Like an eagle it made its home in the skies, It freed the oppressed from their pain!

It could not bear lies and hypocrisy, It bowed its head before honesty. Keeping faithful to heart and to faith, It bravely defeated its ego and its devil!

It never set foot on the path of betrayal, It held the hand of piety with all its soul. Saying with its last breath, “My Lord is Allah,” If it asked for anything, it asked for the gardens of Paradise!

Because it did not know what cunning is, At times it fell into the snares of the crafty. It keeps its word whole, as though it were an oath, Even when at times it is cast into the evening of lies.

They stabbed it in the back with daggers, mercilessly, Those bastards who knew no kindness. Even as it gave its life, it raised the banner on its breast Toward the sky, fastening on its wings.

To one who came asking for bread it gave its bread, To one who came asking for a place it gave shelter. To one who came asking for a life it offered its life, A seeker of justice who knew not how to do harm!

Spreading goodness to the whole world, Enriching the world with knowledge; Sinking Satan into the sea of grief, O ancient Bukhara, Khiva, Samarkand!

O glorious Fergana, mighty Andijan, O my blessed Shash, on which blessings rain! O saintly Namangan, O saintly Surkhan, My sun, shedding light above my head!

Has your name now become a bad one, Have you now become a criminal, my dear?! Did strangers laugh as you looked down at the ground, Are you left in the shackles of grief, my dear?!

May my love be Yours; do not be distressed, Pay no heed to the whisperings of the ungrateful! If they do not see the light, the danger is theirs — They will be locked in the cages of weakness!

You are pure as the sky, radiant as the moon, Exalted as the sun, majestic as a mountain! Glory has settled so deep in your being That only a Dhulfiqar will grow from your breast!

Those who don't know your majesty are blind, Those who throw stones not knowing you are deprived of light. But you, in silence, radiating dignity and grandeur, Watch it all without lamenting.

One who has stood silent for so long Is bound to rise from his place one day. Burning the eyes of the envious and the stranger, It has rose gardens and orchards that will fill the world.

Over your steadfast state Let everyone see the banners of honor! Over your splendor spread across the world — The good news of majestic destinations, that is all!

With justice and compassion, with grace and might You show the Truth like the eye within the heart! With the great help that comes from God, The goal is Yours, O Great Uzbek!