Siilawy

Siilawy (; born Hussam Al-Siilawy, c. 2001) is a Jordanian-Palestinian singer and songwriter. Known for emotionally direct Levantine pop, he rose to prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic after videos of his performances went viral on TikTok, and has since built a wide following among younger Arab listeners. He performs under the mononym Siilawy, derived from his family name.

Early life and career beginnings Siilawy was born around 2001 in Jordan. Before pursuing music, he worked in his family's coal-trading business. He had always been drawn to writing as a means of emotional expression, but did not initially plan a music career. His entry into music came about by chance during the COVID-19 lockdowns of 2020, when he recorded himself singing lyrics he had written about Palestine; a friend uploaded the video to TikTok, where it went viral.

Religious controversy and family estrangement (2026) In late April 2026, Siilawy made remarks during a livestream questioning certain religious interpretations, invoking Quranic verse Al-Baqarah 2:170 to challenge what he characterised as unexamined tradition. The comments generated significant public backlash.

Hospitalisation controversy (May 2026) On 2 May 2026, Siilawy posted messages on his social media accounts from inside a hospital, claiming his family had taken him there against his will and was forcing him to take medication. His posts included his location and prompted widespread concern among followers, with some calling on authorities to verify his safety and legal status. The circumstances remained publicly unresolved, with observers divided over whether the hospitalisation reflected a family intervention related to his mental state or an act of forced confinement.

Discography Selected songs Year Title English meaning Notes 2020 "Leish Trouhi" (ليش تروحي) "Why Did You Leave" Later removed from YouTube; available on SoundCloud 2020 "Yaba" (يابا) "Dad" 2020–21 "Leali" (ليالي) "My Nights" Viral TikTok hit; over 3 million YouTube views 2021 "Wenak" (وينك) "Where Are You" Over 2.5 million YouTube views 2021 "Kodam Ilkol" (قدام الكل) "In Front of Everyone" 30 million views within two months of release 2021 "Less Ma'ki" (لسه معك) "Still with You" Nearly 2 million views within two days of release (December 2021) 2023 "Lamma Tkouni" (لما تكوني) "When You Are" Cited by Siilawy as among his favourite personal songs 2023 "Ashanek" (عشانك) "For Your Sake" Cited by Siilawy as among his favourite personal songs 2026 "Nassaba" (ناصبه) "A Trap" / "Betrayer" Featured in The National 2026 Arabic songs list