This nasheed for Ahrar al-Sham [H/T: Hans Scholl], which I have translated below, will perhaps be of interest in light of the wiping out of a substantial portion of the group's leadership in a bomb attack, including the overall leader Hassan Abboud. The nasheed is most notable for emphasizing a transnational outlook, with explicit reference to the establishment of the Caliphate. This contrasts somewhat with Hassan Abboud's attempt to emphasize a national framework, and points to the diversity of the Ahrar al-Sham movement.
The jihadi-oriented faction of Ahrar al-Sham was foremost embodied in Abu Khalid al-Suri, an al-Qa'ida-linked Ahrar al-Sham leader who had been appointed by Zawahiri to mediate the dispute between what was then the Islamic State in Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) and Jabhat al-Nusra. Further, note the pro-Caliphate and jihadi outlook of Ahrar al-Sham fighters in Hasakah province in particular- illustrated also by ties that were established with Iraqi jihadi group Jamaat Ansar al-Islam that expanded into Syria and the close cooperation in 2013 and the very beginning of 2014 with ISIS: little wonder then that they were easily subsumed by ISIS as infighting between ISIS and other groups spread throughout Syria.
Admittedly, this subsuming of Ahrar al-Sham fighters under ISIS, along with the death of Abu Khalid al-Suri, reduced the prominence of the jihadi faction within Ahrar al-Sham, and Hassan Abboud's attitude to the question of Western support (from outright rejection to apparent receptiveness in signing onto the 'Revolutionary Covenant' that seemed to move away from emphasis on the establishment of an Islamic State), though that should not obscure Ahrar al-Sham's sectarianism that is also well reflected in this song. What direction the group will take now seems somewhat uncertain: indeed even the future viability of Ahrar al-Sham is somewhat in doubt.
Translation
Woe upon you, humiliation upon you.
We swear we will strike your thrones.
And glory and might are with us.
And the punishment of God surrounds you.
The battalions of Ahrar [al-Sham] have come,
To take revenge for our brothers.
With strength and determination, they have said:
"At your service, oh our Islam."
By our blood we have drawn the lines.
And our souls are suited for the houris.
We will not be content with the humiliation of bonds.
We are the descendants of Omar.
Ahadun Ahad, faraddu samad.
Thus is our banner raised.
We have made a vow, for the promise is a pledge,
That you will gulp down our misfortune.
We will ascend the unshakable mountains,
Our summit is above withdrawal.
You will wear humiliation for clothing,
And rejoice at the striking of the neck [i.e. beheading].
Oh avengers of Omar,
The night of treason will be done away with,
Then there will be a Caliphate,
On the program of the lord of Mankind [Muhammad].
[]*
God is Highest and Exalted,
Oh Hizb al-Lat and Hubal,
Bark, for much is the barking.
A mountain in us is not shaken.
Khaybar, Khaybar, ya Majus.
The army of Muhammad has come.
That you may gulp down cups with humiliation,
And weep and feel grief.
We are al-Farouq and Ibn al-Waleed,
And Abu Obeida and Sa'ad.
The blows of our hands are made of iron,
Nay, stronger than palm fibers.
Notes
houris: Maidens of Paradise for the believers.
Omar: the second caliph, who plays a pivotal role in Middle Eastern sectarian identity politics today as a rallying figure of pride for Sunnis (juxtaposed with Ali for the Shi'a). One of his titles is al-Farouq, referenced in this nasheed. He was assassinated in 644 CE- also referenced in this song.
treason: NB: in repeat of this stanza: 'kufr': 'disbelief'
Ahadun Ahad, faraddu samad: Phrase emphasizing the oneness and the eternal nature of God; and of course, He begets not (cf. Sura al-Ikhlas in the Qur'an).
[]*: another version of this nasheed has this verse inserted here (an ISIS tinge, no doubt):
For our land of ash-Sham and our land of Iraq
Are graves for the followers of the Jews.
They will not escape alive with our war,
For our heroes are the embodiment of steadfastness.
"Followers of the Jews" is a clear reference to the Shi'a. Though that verse is not in the version clearly associated with Ahrar al-Sham, the Shi'a-Jewish link notion is brought out elsewhere in this nasheed by invoking the idea of Khaybar against the Majus (another term being deployed in Sunni sectarian discourse against Shi'a). Khaybar was an oasis town in Arabia inhabited by Jews and subjugated by Muhammad's army: the usual chant is "Khaybar Khaybar oh Jews, the army of Muhammad will return." Khaybar is also invoked by Shi'a militias to play up the Iranian-touted idea of 'Islamic Resistance' to Israel, with the Syrian rebels and Sunni insurgents (incl. IS) portrayed as allies of Israel.
Hizb al-Lat and Hubal: Referring to Lebanese Shi'a jihadis and Iranian proxy Hezbollah: instead of 'Party of God', it is the 'Party of al-Lat and Hubal', referring to pre-Islamic deities of Arabia (al-Lat is mentioned in the Qur'an, Hubal isn't).
Ibn al-Waleed: Muslim general who spearheaded conquests beyond Arabia after Muhammad's death.
Abu Obeida: Another Muslim general, most notable during the Caliphate of Omar.
Sa'ad: Sa'af ibn Abi Waqqas: Muslim general who spearheaded conquest of Persia.