Genres Nasheed Website Official Website Genre Nasheed | Years active 1996–present Active from 1996 | |
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Associated acts NowseeheartUstaz AmalS.M SalimYusof IslamMiloud ZenasniMecca2MedinaSeven8Six Past members Nazrey JohaniNordin Jaafar ZulFadhli Mustaza Albums Koleksi Nasyid Terbaik Raihan, Demi Masa, Syukur Members Che Amran Idris, Amran Ibrahim, Abu Bakar Md Yatim, Zulfadli Bin Mustaza, Nazrey Johani, Azhari Ahmad, Nordin Jaafar Record labels Warner Music Malaysia, Raihan Records Sdn Bhd, Gaanchill Music, RPM, ElectroIN Label, Raihan Records Similar Hijjaz, In Team, Rabbani, UNIC, Cat Stevens | ||
Raihan (meaning "Fragrance of Heaven" in Arabic) is a Malaysian nasheed group originally composed of five members that took Malaysia by storm with the release of their debut album Puji-Pujian in October 1996. The group's original line-up comprised Nazrey Johani, Che Amran Idris, Abu Bakar Md Yatim, Amran Ibrahim, and Azhari Ahmad as the leader. Produced by Farihin Abdul Fattah, Puji-Pujian grossed sales of more than 750,000 units in Malaysia alone, with 200,000 units sold within the first two months after its launch, and 3,500,000 units have been sold worldwide, which makes them the most successful Malaysian artist in terms of album sales.
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However, on 29 August 2001, one of the founding members, Azhari Ahmad, died of a myocardial infarction (heart attack) shortly after attending the Era Awards ceremony in Genting Highlands, Pahang.
The remaining four members, Nazrey Johani, Che Amran Idris, Abu Bakar Md Yatim and Amran Ibrahim, have continued releasing album after album. So far, Raihan has released a total of 11 albums and has won many awards in Malaysia. To date, Raihan has won AIM Anugerah Kembara three times for their extensive international tours.
Nazrey Johani resigned from Raihan and was replaced by Nordin Jaafar. However, in early January 2007, Nordin Jaafar himself resigned.Zulfadhli also is no more with Raihan since November2015.
Raihan's motto is 'Pray Hard, Work Smart'.
International performances
In 1997, they were invited by Queen Elizabeth II to perform at Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Edinburgh where they also received an honorary letter from Prince Charles for their performance in Commonwealth in Concert. Following that year, they were given the chance to meet the Queen themselves during her visit to Malaysia in 1998 for the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur. The group had recorded 2 songs ( Seal of The Prophet and God Is The Light) with Yusuf Islam in their second album Syukur.
Platinum status
Raihan is one of the most successful artists in Malaysia, where their debut album, Puji-Pujian is the highest selling album in Malaysia with a total sale of 3,500,000 units thus gaining 12 times Platinum status and Double Platinum in Singapore. Their albums were also well received by the neighbouring country, Indonesia where their fourth album, Koleksi Nasyid Terbaik was sold more than 200,000 units and their tenth album, Bacalah was sold more than 70,000 units in Indonesian market.
World tour
Raihan is the third Malaysian artists to perform at the Royal Albert Hall after Siti Nurhaliza and late Sudirman Arshad and the first artist to perform for the second time in 2008 for Evening of Inspiration for Islamic Relief UK where they also have launched their twelfth album, Selawat for the celebration of Mawlid in the very same hall. In 2004, they had a large tour in France covering seven cities : Bordeaux, Marseille, Nantes, Strasbourg, Lille, Lyon and Paris. They also had done a road tour in United Kingdom in cities like Glasgow, Edinburgh, Manchester, Birmingham, Cardiff, Bristol and Wembley. On 16 July 2005, they have been invited to perform at Canada's Wonderland in Toronto to entertain Muslims visitors. So far they have performed: Australia, Canada, China, France, Great Britain, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Ireland, Kuwait, Russia, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Thailand, Trinidad & Tobago and United States. By the year 2005, they have done concerts in Indonesia for more than ten times, Thailand for six times, United Kingdom for four times and South Africa for three times.
International tours
Awards
Anugerah Industri Muzik Malaysia (Music Industry Awards)
Albums
Songs
25 RasulBrotherhood · 2003
Iman MutiaraPuji - Pujian · 1997
Sifat 20Puji - Pujian · 1997