Raihan’s first and most successful album [tooltip text=”Praise” trigger=”hover”]Puji-pujian[/tooltip] released in 1997. It could have been a phenomenon all by itself, but in fact it appeared simultaneously with two other amazing albums of original Malaysian nasheed, [tooltip text=”Divine Light” trigger=”hover”]Cahaya Ilahi[/tooltip] by Hijjaz and a self-titled album by Rabbani. Together the three albums transformed Malaysian pop music, becoming the top-sellingest local records before or since. The music industry rushed to create a category for them just to give them a music award, and proceeded to produce increasingly plastic imitation bands in their wake. It is hard to believe nearly 20 years have passed. The Malaysian nasyid moment appears to be gone; the most popular religious music artist in Malaysia now is Maher Zain, a foreigner. As their international presence has faded, websites that once existed just to translate the lyrics of Hijaz, Raihan and Rabbani have vanished from the internet. Bin Gregory Productions is left to fill the gap.
[two_first]Pearl of Faith
[/two_first][two_second]
Iman Mutiara
[/two_second]
[two_first]Faith is a pearl
In the hearts of humanity
Who of Allah have certainty
Most Holy, Most Powerful
[/two_first][two_second]
Iman adalah mutiara
Di dalam hati manusia
Yang menyakini Allah
Maha Esa Maha Kuasa
[/two_second]
[two_first]
How can you, without faith
Feel your servanthood to Him
How can you, without faith
Become a righteous servant of the Lord
[/two_first][two_second]
Tanpamu iman bagaimanalah
Merasa diri hamba padaNya
Tanpamu iman bagimanalah
Menjadi hamba Allah yang bertaqwa
[/two_second]
[two_first]
Faith cannot be inherited
From a righteous father
It cannot be bought or sold
Nor found washed upon the shore
[/two_first][two_second]
Iman tak dapat diwarisi
Dari seorang ayah yang bertaqwa
Ia tak dapat dijual beli
Ia tiada di tepian pantai
[/two_second]
[two_first]
By any means whatsoever
Though you may climb the highest mountain
Though you may cross an ocean of fire
Still it cannot be possessed
If you do not return unto the Lord (x 5)
[/two_first][two_second]
Walau apapun caranya jua
Engkau mendaki gunung yang tinggi
Engkau merentas lautan api
Namun tak dapat jua dimiliki
Jika tidak kembali pada Allah (x 5)
[/two_second]
[divider type=”thin”]
Original Malay Lyrics found at Lirik Lagu
English Translation (c) Bin Gregory Productions
Asalaamu alaikum
I met Raihan a couple of years ago here in Canada at the RIS conference and they are coming back this December too insha Allah. I was listening to them way back when they were on cassette tapes. Sadly no one really seems to know who they are anymore. Insha Allah they will make a come back. I wish though they would return to just playing percussion instruments.
wa alaykum salam. That’s so cool, I’ve never seen them perform. They’re coming *back* to Canada and yet I don’t think they’ve made it to Kuching once since I’ve been here. Oh well. Mahir Zain came through, played the stadium for like RM80 a ticket. Raihan’s lead singer was on TV a while back, he’s from Sabah and is raising money for an orphanage cum madrasah there or something. That’s about the only news I’ve heard out of them.