Raihan

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 lineup 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.

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.^[1]

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 from Raihan^[1]. He was replaced by Zulfadli Bin Mustaza^[2].

Raihan's motto is 'Pray Hard, Work Smart'.

Personal Achievements

International performances

In 1997, they were invited by Queen Elizabeth II to perform at Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Edinburgh^[2] where they also received an honorary letter from Prince Charles for their performance in Commonwealth in Concert.^[3] 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.^[2] 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^[4] and Double Platinum in Singapore.^[5] 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.^[2]

World tour

Raihan is the third Malaysian artists to perform at the Royal Albert Hall^[6] 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.^[7][8] 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 July 16, 2005, they have been invited to perform at Canada's Wonderland in Toronto to entertain Muslims visitors. So far they have performed:^[2] 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.^[2]

International Tours

• Singapore Indoor Stadium (Debut Live Concert)
• Commonwealth Conference in Edinburgh (1997)
• Royal Albert Hall London, Manchester, Glasgow, Birmingham and Bristol (UK)
• Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg (South Africa)
• Brunei Darussalam
• Moscow, Saratov and Mahachkala, Russia
• Trinidad & Tobago, South America
• Toronto, Canada
• Aceh, Medan, Padang, Palembang, Riau, Batam, Bandung, Jakarta, Solo, Jogjakarta, Surabaya, Balikpapan, Gorontalo, Fakfak, Irianjaya, Indonesia
• Bangkok, Patani, Narathiwat, Yala, Satun, Thailand
• Kuwait City
• Dubai, Abu Dhabi, UAE.
• Damascus, Syria
• Algiers, Constantine, Algeria
• Hong Kong
• Paris, Bordeaux, Marseille, Nantes, Lille, Strasbourg, France
• Perth, Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney, Australia

Awards

Anugerah Industri Muzik Malaysia (Music Industry Awards)

• Best New Group (1998)
• Best Nasyid Album (Puji-Pujian) (1998)
• Best Album (Puji-Pujian) (1998)
• Kembara (Explorer) Award (1998)
• Best Duo/Group Vocal Performance In An Album (Syukur) (1999)
• Best Nasyid Album (Syukur) (1999)
• Best Duo/Group Vocal Performance In An Album (Senyum) (2000)
• Best Nasyid Album (Senyum) (2000)
• Kembara (Explorer) Award (2001)
• Best Duo/Group Vocal Performance In An Album (Demi Masa) (2002)
• Best Nasyid Album (Gema Alam) (2004)
• Best Duo/Group Vocal Performance In An Album (Allahu) (2005)
• Best Nasyid Album (Allahu) (2005)
• Best Nasyid Album (Ameen) (2006)
• Kembara (Explorer) Award (2006)
• Best Nasyid Album (Tawakkal) (2007)
• Best Nasyid Song 2009
• Malaysia 's best selling album ever (PUJI-PUJIAN – 1.5Mil units) and total album sales of 3.5 million units (to date);
• Starred in Malaysia 's first movie with a totally Islamic theme, SYUKUR 21;
• Won many local industry music awards for a variety of achievements including Best Album, Best Vocals, Album Of The Year and Most Travelled Artistes, travelled all six continents;
• Accorded the Malaysian Book Of Records' Fastest Selling Album (Jan 1997)
• Awarded the Mahabbah award in Dubai (2006)
• Defined the Contemporary Nasyeed music genre, becoming the trendsetters and inspiring many local and international nasyeed acts
• Being the preferred benchmark for nasyeed repertoire and performances
• Appointed Peace Ambassadors representing Malaysia by the Prime Minister Department (2006);
• Launching the annual RAIHAN World Tours (2006) and most significant of all (but seldom mentioned) - inspiring millions of lives to constantly become better Muslims.
• Listed in 50 faces of Malaysia 2008
• Listed The 500 Most Influential Muslim In The World 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013

Albums

• 01. Puji-Pujian (1996)
• 02. Syukur (1997)
• 03. Senyum (1999)
• 04. Maafkan [with NowSeeHeart, Ajai, Rem, Amir and Man Bai] (1999)
• 05. Koleksi Nasyid Terbaik (compilation) (2000)
• 06. Syukur 21 [Syukur 21 film soundtrack] (2000)
• 07. Demi Masa (2001)
• 08. Gema Alam (2002)
• 09. Brotherhood [International Release]
• 10. Allahu (2004)
• 11. Ameen (2005)
• 12. Iqra'-Bacalah [Koleksi Terbaik Raihan 1 Dekad] (2005)
• 13. Tawakal (2006)
• 14. Praises For The Prophet (2008)
• 15. Musafir Perjuangan (2010)
• 16. Salawatherapy
• 17 Zikir Therapy
• 18 Lagu-Lagu Hafalan (2011)

References

• - Retrieved 11 January 2007 (In Malay)
• - Retrieved 5 May 2007 (In Malay)

External links

• Official website
• Preview Raihan's Hit Debut Album, 'Puji-Pujian'
• Preview Raihan's Hit Album, 'Syukur' which includes Yusuf Islam (formerly known as Cat Stevens) singing "God is the Light"