Ustaz Ahmad Mustafa Sidin Al-Muqri

Sholawat is an Indonesian Islamic devotional song tradition centered on lyrical praises and blessings upon the Prophet Muhammad (salawat). It bridges Arabic liturgical poetry with local musical aesthetics, most commonly voiced in Arabic and Indonesian. Traditionally performed in pesantren (Islamic boarding schools), mosques, and community gatherings such as maulid and haul commemorations, sholawat relies on call-and-response vocals and frame-drum ensembles (rebana/terbangan, hadrah, marawis). In contemporary practice, it also appears in pop-influenced formats with keyboards, oud (gambus), violin, bass, and light percussion, making it accessible to younger audiences while retaining its devotional core. Melodically, sholawat often draws on maqam (modal) flavors such as Hijaz, Bayati, and Nahawand, with ornamental, melismatic singing. Its rhythmic palette spans simple 2/4 and 4/4 grooves to Middle Eastern-derived patterns (e.g., malfuf and wahda), adapted to Indonesian ensemble practices.

Qur'an recitation (tilāwa/qirāʾa) is the highly disciplined, melodically articulated oral rendering of the Islamic scripture in Classical Arabic. Practitioners do not regard it as "music" in a secular entertainment sense; rather, it is an act of worship governed by tajwīd rules that ensure perfect pronunciation, pacing, and clarity of meaning. Despite that distinction, many listeners perceive its sonic features—nuanced phrasing, modal color, and controlled vibrato—as musical. Reciters often shape their delivery with melodic contours related to the Arabic maqām system while maintaining a free, speech-like rhythm. Performances range from measured murattal styles for study and daily devotion to more florid mujawwad styles in public or ceremonial contexts. The result is an emotionally expressive but strictly text-centered art of sacred vocal recitation.