Abu Ratib
Abu Ratib أبو راتب | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Mohamed Mustapha Ali Masfaka |
| Born | 1962 (age 61–62) Aleppo, Syria |
| Origin | Aleppo, Syria |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Singer |
| Instrument(s) | |
| Years active | 1981–present |
Mohamed Mustapha Ali Masfaka (Arabic: محمد مصطفى علي مسفقة; born 1962), better known as Abu Ratib (أبو راتب), is a Syrian Nasheed singer of Islamic and Arabic music based on classical Arab poetry.
Early life[edit]
Masfaka was born in Aleppo, Syria. From an early age, he was immersed in musical traditions of the Arab world.[1] At a young age, he joined the Arab Music Institute in Aleppo, Syria where he studied musical notation (Solfège) and learned to play the violin.[2]
Masfaka studied broadcasting and television direction in Amman, Jordan, and obtained experience in the broadcasting engineering.[3]
Career[edit]
As Masfaka balanced music with a growing interest in Islam, his work moved in a spiritual direction.[1] He joined the band of the singer Abi Dujanah for religious singing, until he founded Al-Huda band in 1981 and began issuing the albums of Islamic singing. In 1986, Al-Huda band developed to found Al-Huda Islamic Art. In 1991, he founded Al-Huda International Art Production.[3]
Masfaka is an active member of the Arabic arts community and is involved in numerous organizations to promote Islamic music and artist development worldwide. He has traveled over the U.S and abroad as a featured artist at community events in mosques and on college campuses.[1]
He is a member of Michigan-based Crescent Academy International, and aims to overcome negative impressions of Islam through his works such as a play about the Islam featuring the Islamic prophet Muhammad which attracted a large non-Muslim audience.[2] He is also head of the World Islamic Art League.[3]
Masfaka has often sung in support of human rights for the occupied Palestinian people.[4]
Awards[edit]
In 2006, Masfaka was awarded the World Youth Prize for Islamic Work in the field of Inshad (religious singing).[2]
Arrest and deportation[edit]
In 2010, he was arrested when he returned from Canada, due to his involvement with the Holy Land Foundation when the case of the holy land 5 concluded in 2008 with their imprisonment.[5][6] Masfaka who pleaded guilty to making false statements during his naturalization proceedings, was later deported to the country of his choice.[7]
Personal life[edit]
Masfaka is married to Batoul Qaweqji and has five daughters, Ayah, Nour, Sana, Hiba, and Sama Masfaka.
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c Islamic Beliefs, Practices, and Cultures (Muslim World). Marshall Cavendish Corporation. 2010. p. 272. ISBN 978-0761479260.
abu ratib.
- ^ a b c "Artists". Global Peace & Unity Event 2008. 2008. Archived from the original on 2013-02-04. Retrieved August 31, 2011. Abu Ratib
- ^ a b c "Biography of the munshid Abu Ratib". ãæÞÚ ÃÈæÑÇÊÈ. 2004. Retrieved August 31, 2011.
- ^ "Islamic singer Abu Ratib agrees to remain jailed in Michigan". Michigan: MLive.com. January 29, 2010. Retrieved December 1, 2014.
- ^ "Abu Ratib Regains Freedom – Muslim Legal Fund of America". Muslim Legal Fund of America.
- ^ "Abu Ratib sentenced and ordered deported". mlive.com. 15 December 2010.
- ^ "Popular Syrian singer Abu Ratib released after hearing, will self-deport". Arab American News. 27 December 2010.
External links[edit]
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- 1962 births
- Living people
- Syrian Muslims
- Syrian emigrants to the United States
- 20th-century Syrian male singers
- Performers of Islamic music
- Musicians from Aleppo
- Salahaddin University-Erbil alumni
- University of Jordan alumni
- Mohammed V University alumni
- 21st-century Syrian male singers
- Syrian people stubs
- Middle Eastern singer stubs