Lebanese Singer Fadel Shaker Says "Art is Haram"?

Morocco World News

Fez, March 30, 2012

‘‘Never dream to be a singer. Singers’ hearts are full of worries and concerns’’, said the Lebanese singer Fadel Shaker.

Fadel Shaker, who announced his retirement from singing, expressed his great happiness that he has finally chosen the right path. ‘‘Singers make happiness while they’re very sad because of their distance from Allah’’, Fadel Shaker claimed.

The Lebanese singer declared in an interview with Rahma TV Channel at his house in Saida in Lebanon that he quit singing to show a strong belief that art is haram (forbidden).

‘‘I’m a Muslim man whom Allah has shown the right path’’, Fadel Shaker said.

Fadel Shaker has also claimed that his popularity throughout the Arab World, in particular, is but a mere big lie adding that he, at the end, will follow the right path.

Fadel Shaker has always been known to the audience as a recluse and romantic artist. It is very rare to watch him in interviews or in TV program shows.

He has been known as a shy person and a very sensitive artist with an amazing voice. He participated in most famous Arab festivals and has a huge number of fans all over the Arab world.

Fadel Shaker’s decision to quit singing was not expected and many people have wondered why Fadel Shaker can’t sing religious songs and what Shaker will do with all the money he has earned from his artistic career. Is he going to keep it for himself or give it to the poor and needy people since it is, as he claimed, harram?

This report, actually, has been circulated in many news outlets and has been published in various Arab newspapers in the last couple of days, generating a lot of controversy over the position of art in religion, particularly in Islam.

This can only lead to one conclusion: that the report was written for commercial purposes aimed at attracting more readers, especially since the topic is sensitive and tackles a thorny issue that goes beyond the idea of just the retirement of a famous Arab singer.

Organizers of Mawazin Festival in Morocco confirmed the participation of Fadel Shaker in this year’s edition. Such a declaration by the organizing committee of the festival proves that Fadel Shaker’s announcement of his retirement from the music scene is but a rumor that has been exaggerated by media.

‘‘Fadel Shaker’s performance in this year edition of Mawazin festival is for sure and without any doubt’’, said Aziz Daki, the artistic director of Mawazin. ‘‘Fadel Sahker confirmed his attendance to Mawazin and agreed to come to sing in front of the Moroccan public’’, he added.

The performance of the Lebanese singer in Mawazin will definitely make clear to the audience and to all the journalists who didn’t hesitate to highlight the news about him, that this has most likely been just a mere rumor for the sake of attracting more readers and profitability.