What is a Nasheed?
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A Nasheed (Arabic: singular نشيد , plural أناشيد; also spelt Nasyid in Malaysia and Indonesia; in Bosnia and Herzegovina: Ilahija) is an Islamic-oriented song. Traditionally, it is sung a cappella, accompanied only by a daff.
A new generation of “Nasheed” artists use a wide variety of musical instruments in their art. There is also a crossover of mainstream music of groups like Outlandish, Aman, and solo artists like Dawud Wharnsby Ali, Sami Yusuf, Slave of Allah and Idris Phillips, appealing to a significant Muslim crowd and also leading to performance of such artists at Islamic orientated festivals, conferences, concerts and shows (e.g. ISNA, Celebrate Eid, Young Muslims). Other artists and organisations such as Noor Media promote a 100% instrument free stance with nasheeds, differing from the current trends of the increasing usage of instruments in nasheeds.
Nasheeds are also increasingly being accompanied by professionally produced videos for certain tracks. Examples include Madinah Tun-Nabi by Aashiq al-Rasul Al Mu’allim, Meditation, Hasbi Rabbi (all by Sami Yusuf), Du’a by Seven 8 Six, Mercy like the Rain by SHAAM & Our World by Zain Bhikha.
Nasheeds are popular in Middle East, Southeast Asia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo and South Asia. They are also popular in the UK among British Muslims.
