Biography of Omar Esa

Omar Esa (عمر عيسى) is an award-winning and chart-topping international Nasheed artist from the United Kingdom. He is renowned for creating “vocals-only” Islamic songs, using his voice as his sole instrument. A former R&B and Pop singer, Omar Esa made a significant life change to dedicate his talents to spreading the message of Islam. His major accomplishments include multiple number-one albums and singles on the iTunes world charts and becoming the first Nasheed artist to chart in the mainstream UK charts, making a historical impact on the faith-inspired music genre.

Early Life and Education

Omar Esa was born in London, England, to a family of Pakistani origin. Growing up in the UK, he was initially drawn to secular music and pursued a career as an R&B/Pop singer. A major turning point in his life occurred in 2011 when he was guided by his faith to leave the mainstream music industry. This ideological shift led him to embrace a new path where he could use his vocal talents in a manner that he felt was in harmony with his Islamic beliefs. He committed to producing Nasheeds without any musical instruments, a principle he has strictly adhered to throughout his career.

Career and Leadership

Omar Esa’s journey as a Nasheed artist began with a simple dream: to show the world the beauty of Islam through his songs.
He is a strong advocate for voice-only Nasheeds and has famously coined the phrase, “Anything music can do, so can the voice – My voice is my instrument.” He also created his own genre of music called ‘Islam and blues’ (InB), a nod to his past in Rhythm and Blues (R&B), where he has replaced “Rhythm” with “Islam.”
His career is marked by several key milestones:

Debut Album (2012): Released his first album titled ‘Omar Esa’.
‘My Muslim Family’ (2017): His second album, which charted at number one on the iTunes UK world album charts.
Chart-Topping Singles (2018-2020): Released ‘Tera Pyaar – Your Love’ (2018), ‘Nikah’ (2019), and ‘Ya Allah’ (2020), all of which hit the number one spot on the iTunes world chart.
Historic Achievement (2021): His third album, ‘Allah and His Beloved’, made history by becoming the first Nasheed album to chart in a mainstream UK chart. It was the 4th most downloaded album in the entire United Kingdom during the week of its release.

As an independent artist, he has toured and performed in numerous countries, including the USA, South Africa, Australia, Dubai, Canada, and Malaysia.

Attribute	Details
Full Name	Omar Esa
Date of Birth	April 17
Age	Varies
Birthplace	London, England
Gender	Male
Occupation	Nasheed Artist, Singer-Songwriter
Education	Secular education in the UK
Known For	Vocals-only Nasheeds, Chart-topping albums, Creating the 'Islam and blues' genre

Career Timeline

2011

A New Path

Omar Esa leaves his career as an R&B/Pop singer to dedicate his life to creating faith-inspired music without instruments.

2012

Debut Album

He releases his first vocals-only Nasheed album, 'Omar Esa', officially launching his new career.

2017

Chart-Topping Success

His second album, 'My Muslim Family', is released and charts at number one on the iTunes UK world album charts, marking a significant achievement.

2018-2020

Continued Success

Releases a series of singles including 'Tera Pyaar – Your Love', 'Nikah', and 'Ya Allah', which all reach number one on the iTunes world chart.

2021

Making History

His third album, 'Allah and His Beloved', becomes the first Nasheed album to chart in the official mainstream UK charts, peaking at number 3 on the main iTunes chart and ranking as the 4th most downloaded album in the UK during its release week. This solidifies his position as a groundbreaking artist in his genre.

Present

Continues to release new Nasheeds, perform internationally, and use his platform to spread positive messages of Islam.

Philosophy and Views

Omar Esa’s approach is that of an activist and a spiritual artist. He strongly believes that Muslims, especially the youth, need a positive and permissible alternative to mainstream music. He views the combination of art and Islam as a powerful tool for Dawah (inviting others to Islam) for both Muslims and non-Muslims. His lyrical content is centered on Islam, with Nasheeds praising Allah (SWT), telling stories about the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), and incorporating words from the Qur’an and Hadith. He aims to forward the messages of peace, love, and unity through his work. While his stance on “vocals-only” Nasheeds has been a subject of discussion within the community, he has remained steadfast in his conviction, handling public discourse with clarity and a focus on his artistic and religious principles.

Personal Life and Challenges

One of the most significant challenges Omar Esa faced was leaving his established career in secular music to start anew in a niche genre. This decision required immense faith and perseverance. He is married to Sharmin Begum, who is of Bangladeshi origin, and they have a son named Ibrahim. He often shares glimpses of his family life, emphasizing the importance of family values in Islam. The community perceives him as a sincere and dedicated individual who uses his God-given talent for a higher purpose.

Legacy and Impact

Omar Esa is remembered for revolutionizing the Nasheed industry by proving that vocals-only tracks can achieve mainstream success. He has influenced a new generation of Muslim artists and listeners, normalizing instrument-free Islamic music. His impact is global, with a massive online following, including over 900,000 subscribers on YouTube. His work continues to inspire millions, and he remains one of the most prominent and influential Nasheed artists in the world today.