Maher Zain

Maher Zain (; born 16 July 1981) is a Lebanese-Swedish Islamic Nasheeds and R&B singer, songwriter and music producer. He released his debut album Thank You Allah, an internationally successful album produced by Awakening Records, in 2009. He released his follow-up album Forgive Me in April 2012 under the same production company, a third album One in 2016, and one mini album Nour Ala Nour in 2021. Ten years after his third album, he released his fourth album, Back To You in 2026.

Career Early life Maher Zain's Lebanese family emigrated to Sweden in 1989. He completed his schooling there, gaining a bachelor's degree in aeronautical engineering. After university, he entered the music industry in Sweden, and in 2005 linked up with the Moroccan-born Swedish producer RedOne. When RedOne moved to New York in 2006, Zain soon followed to continue his music industry career in the United States, producing for artists such as Kat DeLuna.

On returning home to Sweden, Zain became engaged once more with his Islamic faith and decided to move away from a career as a music producer to become a singer/songwriter of contemporary R&B music with a strong Islamic influence.

Breakthrough and success In January 2009, Zain began working on an album with Awakening Records. His debut album, Thank You Allah, with 13 songs and two bonus tracks, was released on 1 November 2009 with percussion versions and French versions of some tracks released shortly afterwards. Earlier, he had published some of his tracks on Sony Music Group and Rotana Music Group, though his tracks became popular at Awakening Music.

Zain and Awakening Records successfully used Facebook, YouTube and iTunes to promote tracks from the album. In early 2010 his music very quickly gathered a huge online following in Arabic-speaking and Islamic countries as well as among young Muslims in western countries. By the end of 2010, he was the most Googled celebrity in Malaysia for that year. He took part in the judging committee of the Awakening Talent Contest to choose Awakening Records' new star in 2013.

Collaborations, appearances and awards

In January 2010, Zain won Best Religious Song for 'Ya Nabi Salam Alayka', on Nogoum FM, a major Middle East mainstream music station, beating other prominent singers including Hussein Al-Jismi, Mohammed Mounir and Sami Yusuf.

In March 2011, Zain released "Freedom", In July 2011 he featured on the cover of the UK Muslim lifestyle magazine Emel.

Zain was featured on Irfan Makki's track "I Believe" from his debut studio album of the same name.

Zain has appeared in the 40-episode Indonesian TV drama Insya-Allah. The show was aired on Malaysian satellite TV channel, Astro Oasis and Mustika HD, starting 17 July 2012, concurrent with the broadcasting of the show on Indonesia's SCTV.

In 2013, he took part in the Colors of Peace project constituting songs based on works by Fethullah Gülen on the album Rise Up where Maher Zain performs the track "This Worldly Life".

In 2025, Maher Zain collaborated with Harris J to perform the song Qalbi Fi Madinah, which is a song expressing their love of the Prophet Muhammad.

Discography Albums YearAlbum detailsCertifications(sales thresholds)2009Thank You Allah Released: 1 November 2009 Label: Awakening Records Formats: CD, Digital Download 8× Platinum, Warner Music Malaysia 2× Platinum, Sony Music Indonesia 2016One Released: 6 June 2016 Label: Awakening Records Formats: CD, Digital Download–2026Back To You Released: 1 May 2026 Label: Awakening Records Formats: Digital Download–

Compilations Released: December 2014 Label: Awakening Records Formats: Digital Download, CD Released: April 2018 Label: Awakening Records Formats: Digital Download, CD Total tracks: 14 tracks

Mini albums Released: April 2013 Label: Awakening Records Formats: Digital download Total tracks: 2 tracksRamadan Released: June 2013 Label: Awakening Records Formats: Digital download Released: July 2014 Label: Awakening Records Formats: Digital download Released: April 2021 Label: Awakening Music Formats: Digital download Total tracks: 6 tracks

Singles 2009: Palestine Will Be Free 2010: Insha Allah 2010: The Chosen One 2011: Freedom 2011: Ya Nabi Salam Alayka 2011: For The Rest Of My Life 2014: Samih 2014: Nas Teshbehlena 2015: A'amarona A'amalona 2022: Rahmatun lil'Alameen 2022: Eidun Mubarak

Videography

2009: Palestine Will Be Free 2009: Subhan Allah 2010: Insha Allah 2010: The Chosen One 2011: Freedom 2011: Ya Nabi Salam Alayka 2011: For the Rest of My Life 2012: Number One For Me 2012: So Soon 2012: Guide Me All the Way 2013: Love Will Prevail 2013: Ramadan 2014: Muhammad (P.B.U.H) 2014: Nas Teshbehlana (in Arabic ناس تشبهلنا) 2014: One Day 2015: A'maroona A'maloona (in Arabic أعمارنا أعمالنا) 2016: I am Alive (with Atif Aslam) 2016: By my Side 2016: Good Day 2016: True Love 2016: Paradise 2016: Peace Be Upon You 2016: The Way of Love (with Mustafa Ceceli) 2017: Close to You 2017: As-subhu Bada (in Arabic الصبح بدا) 2017: Kun Rahma (in Arabic كن رحمة) 2017: Medina 2018: Huwa AlQuran 2019: Ala Nahjik Mashayt 2019: Live It Up (feat. Lenny Martinez) 2019: Ummi 2020: Antassalam 2020: Asma Allah Alhusna (The 99 Names of Allah) 2020: Break The Chains 2020: Srebrenica 2021: Nour Ala Nour 2021: Huwa Ahmadun 2021: Laytaka Ma'ana 2021: Qalbi Sajad 2021: Hubb Ennabi 2021: Nuru Nebi (in Turkish Nûru Nebi) 2022: No One But You 2022: Rahmatun Lil Alameen 2022: Eidun Mubarak 2022: Tahayya (with Humood AlKhuder) 2022: Dima Maghreb (with Humood AlKhuder) 2024: Ya Habiba Ya Falastin 2024: Salla Alaika Rehman 2024: Ey Ghafuru Rahim 2024: Free Palestine 2024: Lebanon 2025: Qalbi Fil Madinah 2025: La Tahzan

Featured in 2011: I Believe (Irfan Makki feat. Maher Zain) (in Irfan Makki's album I Believe) 2009 : Never Forget (Mesut Kurtis feat. Maher Zain) (in Mesut Kurtis' album Beloved) 2014: So Real (Raef feat. Maher Zain) (in Raef's album The Path) 2014: Eidun Saeed (Mesut Kurtis feat. Maher Zain) (in Mesut Kurtis' album Tabassam)

Philanthropic activities In 2013, Zain performed in Canada on a tour organised by Islamic Relief to raise donations for typhoon victims in the Philippines. Zain took part in the UK "Sound of Light" event organized by Human Appeal International in support of the Syrian people. Zain also dedicated his song "Love will prevail" (sung in Arabic and English) to the Syrians. Zain celebrated his birthday with his 3.9 million Facebook fans by asking them to donate money to a United States–based charity organization that builds water wells in Africa. His fans paid more than $15,000 within a few weeks. In August 2014, Zain took part in "The Great Wall of China Trek 2014" a 10-day humanitarian mission in association with Human Appeal to raise donations for clean water to children in Gaza. Ahead of performing at the 2014 Nansen Refugee Award Ceremony, Zain travelled to Lebanon with UNHCR to spend time with Syrian refugees and see UNHCR's frontline work. Zain sang "One Day" about refugees in Geneva's Bâtiment des Forces Motrices for the award ceremony.