Maher Mustafa 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.Entertainment (2011-08-10). "Maher Zain's Hip but Pious Soundtrack to the Arab Spring". The Atlantic. Retrieved 10 October 2011. 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.Eena Houzyama (2010-10-11). "Thank God for Maher Zain". The Malay Mail, retrieved 10 October 2011
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."Maher Zain". IslamicLyrics, retrieved 10 October 2011
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.Music & Festivals "Maher Zain Interview". Time Out Beirut, retrieved 14 October 2011 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, YouTubeAdmin (2010-11-16). "Muslim Singer Maher Zain". NXT News, retrieved 14 October 2011 and iTunes to promote tracks from the album.Lisa Siregar (2011-05-02). "A Portrait of the Artist As a Young Muslim" . Jakarta Globe, retrieved 14 October 20112011-08-26 "Being pious in the heart of modernity". New Straits Times, retrieved 14 October 2011 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.Sundus Awan (Transcribed) 2010-11-29. "Maher Zain Interview" . The Muslim Youth Voice Website, retrieved 14 October 2011 By the end of 2010, he was the most Googled celebrity in Malaysia for that year. Malaysia and Indonesia have been the countries where he has had the most commercial success. The album Thank You Allah has been certified multiple platinum by Warner Music Malaysia and Sony Music Indonesia. It became the highest selling album of 2010 in Malaysia.
Zain sings mainly in English but has released some of his most popular songs in other languages. The song "Insha Allah", for example, is now available in English, French, Arabic, Turkish, Malay and Indonesian versions. Another song, "Allahi Allah Kiya Karo" ("Continuously Saying Allah"), is sung in Urdu and features the Pakistan-born Canadian singer Irfan Makki, while his 2012 song Asalamu Alayka was sung in about six different languages, including Arabic, English, Turkish, beyond others.
Zain has performed concerts around the world, including in the UK, the United States, Malaysia, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. He has fan clubs in several countries including Malaysia, Egypt, and Morocco. 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.News Summary (January 2010). "Maher Zain wins Nugoom FM's Best Song Award" . Awakening Worldwide. Retrieved 2 September 2011.
In March 2011, Zain released "Freedom", a song inspired by the events and the actions of the people taking part in the Arab Spring.
Zain was chosen as a Muslim Star of 2011 in a competition organized by Onislam.net. In July 2011 he featured on the cover of the UK Muslim lifestyle magazine Emel.Issue 82 (July 2011). Maher Zain digital issue – OUT NOW!. Emel. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
Zain was featured on Irfan Makki's track "I Believe" from his debut studio album of the same name."I Believe Lyrics". IslamicLyrics, retrieved 18 October 2011.
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.Maher Zain bintangi sinetron Harian Metro retrieved 26 June 2012
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".Zaman Online: Savaşın karşısına Hocaefendi’nin şiirlerinden oluşan albümle çıktılar (In Turkish)
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 MalaysiaMaher Zain receives 8 platinums in Malaysia Awakening Worldwide, retrieved January 2011 2× Platinum, Sony Music Indonesia2012Forgive Me Released: 2 April 2012 Label: Awakening Records Formats: CD, Digital Download 4× Platinum, Warner Music Malaysia2016One 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 YearAlbum details2014Singles & Duets Released: December 2014 Label: Awakening Records Formats: Digital Download, CD Total tracks: 15 tracks2018The Best of Maher Zain Live & Acoustic Released: April 2018 Label: Awakening Records Formats: Digital Download, CD Total tracks: 14 tracks
Mini albums YearAlbum details2013Love Will Prevail Released: April 2013 Label: Awakening Records Formats: Digital download Total tracks: 2 tracksRamadan Released: June 2013 Label: Awakening Records Formats: Digital download Total tracks: 4 tracks2014Ramadan – Vocals Only Version Released: July 2014 Label: Awakening Records Formats: Digital download Total tracks: 2 tracks2021Nour Ala Nour 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. Zain took part in a London pro-Palestinian rally, joined by thousands of people, to call for the end to Israeli military action in Gaza. 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.
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