5 Male Celebrities Leave Glamour to Know God

GUIDANCE is Allah’s secret, arriving unexpectedly and capable of transforming a person’s life direction in the blink of an eye.

For some well‑known local figures, their turning point came while they were at the peak of their careers.

The brave decision to slow down their careers, leaving the concert stage or film sets, is not an easy step, yet it was taken in pursuit of a true hijrah.

The following are among the local popular figures who chose to switch paths, leaving the glitter of the entertainment world behind to pursue the light of guidance and steadfastness on His path.

Ali XPDC

Once upon a time, Ali was a famous Malaysian rock singer who became the vocalist for the group XPDC from 1997, replacing Mael.

However, the man with the full name Mohd. Ali Ismail was determined to make a hijrah towards a better path to get to know his religion.

His hijrah was driven by growing concern for his children and wife, who were often left behind due to his hectic performance schedule across various locations.

Izam EYE

After being actively involved in the entertainment world with the group EYE, Izam left everything behind in 1999.

Izam, whose real name is Mohd. Izam Arshad, explained that his 13‑year disappearance from the music industry was because he wanted to deepen his religious knowledge.

Throughout that period, he spent much of his time learning Islamic knowledge at mosques, besides joining tabligh groups.

However, Izam never forgot his singing background, as he considered it to be ingrained in him.

In fact, he never viewed his hijrah as an obstacle to returning to active involvement, as long as it did not conflict with Islam.

Iwan Syahman

Around the 1990s, singer Iwan Syahman was very popular, even creating a phenomenon with the dangdut genre.

With increasing age, Iwan, whose full name is Wan Syahman Wan Yunus, has changed and drawn closer to the path of paradise at the age of 49.

According to him, the attitude of his children—actors Aprena Manrose and Oktovia Manrose (as well as Wan Ramada Agus Putra)—who used to mock him when they were young became the main reason that stirred his heart to change.

Because of that painful incident, Iwan began to say that he became restless thinking about his children who did not like him, which then stirred his heart to change towards goodness.

Throughout his hijrah period, Iwan did not completely abandon the entertainment world and tended to sing nasyid and religious songs.

Last year, he received authorisation from the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (JAIS) to preach and teach in Selangor.

Ustaz Akhil Hayy

During his teenage years, Ustaz Akhil Hayy was a member of the rock group D’Riyadh in 1988.

After that, he underwent a major hijrah process from a rock singer to an independent preacher and a well‑known nasyid icon in Malaysia.

The transformation began when he had a dream that made him realise his mistakes.

In fact, he also cut his long hair, which was said to resemble that of a pontianak, to appear like a true man.

Saharul Ridzwan

Staying steadfast in his hijrah for several years now, Saharul Ridzwan has chosen to take a break from acting and focus on deepening his religious knowledge.

The actor, famous for the drama Hati Perempuan, has also joined the tabligh congregation, which is seen as an effort to invite people back to the path of Allah and uphold Islamic teachings.

He however does not rule out the possibility of returning to acting if given the opportunity, but it would depend on the type of script.

Saharul’s hijrah process began after meeting a friend who guided him onto the right path.

According to him, the words spoken by that friend made him think deeply and try to find a path to divine pleasure.

Kosmo Online