Mosque bilal draws attention with voice resembling that of late Rabbani vocalist

KUALA LUMPUR - Each time this young man’s melodious vocals and distinctive singing style are heard, fans are reminded of the velvety voice of the late Ustaz Mohamad Asri Ibrahim, lead vocalist of the nasyid group Rabbani.

Abdul Shahid Mohd Zamiluddin’s voice is strikingly similar to that of Ustaz Asri. Abdul Shahid first began attracting attention among nasyid (Islamic vocal music) fans in 2009. However, his name gained wider recognition in 2025 after he actively shared recordings of his singing on TikTok through the account @shaheed_mohammed7. A video of him singing ‘Insaf’ garnered nearly 700,000 views.

Grateful for the vocal resemblance to the revered nasyid singer, Abdul Shahid, 41, said it is not something for him to boast about, describing it, instead, as a gift.

"Some social media users say my singing reminds them of Ustaz Asri, and some have admitted to being moved to tears. What I have today is also the result of Ustaz Asri’s guidance after I met him during a nasyid concert performance with Rabbani," he said.

He recalled being just 16 years old when his religious teacher, the late Azmi Suhaili, discovered his singing talent and asked him to perform the song ‘Munajat’ alongside Rabbani at a school event. Ustaz Asri praised his performance and encouraged him to pursue his interest in nasyid music.

Now serving as a bilal (muezzin) at Masjid Diraja Sultan Alaeddin in Kuala Langat, Selangor, Abdul Shahid said the late nasyid icon continued to mentor him, guiding him in vocal techniques, breath control and voice projection. From that moment on, the protégé of Ustaz Asri grew increasingly confident performing before live audiences and began receiving numerous invitations to perform.

After completing school, Abdul Shahid worked as an audio technician at a sound system company. He was also directly involved in the technical management of various nasyid performances, including those featuring Rabbani. He later strengthened his footing in the industry by forming two nasyid groups, By-Duree and Soufies, producing several songs together.

However, he could not continue performing with the groups due to his commitments as a bilal and his responsibilities in mosque management. Health challenges also became a factor.

"At 36, I developed health issues, including sleep apnea, which affected my stamina and ability to stand for long periods. That led me to stop accepting invitations for performances," he said.

Though he admits missing the stage, he has chosen social media - particularly TikTok - as a new platform to continue sharing his voice and passion with audiences. - BERNAMA