Amarni: Mashallah song sparks controversy with parts of Muslim community

A Sydney rapper making her mark on the global music scene has sparked controversy with her latest single due to the use of a single Arabic word.

A rising Sydney rapper’s latest track has sparked controversy with the use of one single word.

Up-and-coming artist Amarni’s highly anticipated new single Mashallah has been received with delight by her many fans online, racking up almost 77,000 streams since its release three weeks ago.

However, the song’s title – an Arabic word translated as “what God has willed” – has raised ire in parts of Australia’s Muslim community due to its religious significance.

Sydney rapper Amarni debuted her new single Mashallah in October 2020.

“Bro don’t say Allah in your songs, so disrespectful,” one critic commented on Instagram.

“How dare you use Allah’s name in such a way,” another wrote.

The rapper has now responded about the significance of the term for her and her own Lebanese community.

“In Arabic when you describe something beautiful or something in appreciation of God’s creation, we say ‘Mashallah’ which is a commonly used word particularly for my Lebanese community,” Amarni said.

“For anyone to hate on something so powerful and positive contradicts being godly regardless of your faith.”

Images from the official music video.

The song is an ode to female empowerment.

Amarni shrugged off the dissent, which has been far outweighed by praise and positive feedback for her latest single.

“The haters are a minority group who have a very fundamental view of Islam, including the view of music being forbidden,” Amarni said.

“No matter what music I put out, there’s always a problem.”

Amarni’s star is on the rise.

She has a vocal fanbase on Instagram.

The official music video – which has surpassed 21,000 views in the past week alone – features Amarni with a diverse group of women, including women in hijabs.

The Parramatta Advertiser and The Daily Telegraph can now exclusively reveal behind-the-scenes footage from the music video along with exclusive insights from the artist herself.

“In my view a woman in a bikini and a woman who wears a hijab are equally beautiful and that is exactly what is expressed in my visuals," Amarni said.

“I respect people of all faiths and ethnicities and my message is simply female

empowerment – something we need a lot more of.”

Sydney rapper Amarni.

The musician and professional hip-hop dancer also gave a rare insight into her artistic motivation as she continues her ascent in Australia’s music scene.

“I have always been a very strong and powerful woman and I feel my purpose in life

is to make women feel the same way,” Amarni said.

“Regardless of their race, colour, shape or size I want every woman to know that they are beautiful – we are flawed and imperfect but that is truest definition of being a queen.”

Amarni on Instagram.

Amarni on Instagram.

Amarni also acknowledged the particular pressure on women in public life.

“We are criticised and judged but women are also so quick to tear each other down,” Amarni said.

“I want to change that – where there are women, there is magic and we are only a force as one.”

Now 22, Amarni first shot to the stage as a teen when she toured with Blackstreet frontman Chauncey Black as a dancer.

She has since performed along side G.O.O.D. Music rapper Tyga, French Montana and Akon while rolling out her industry debut track Pretty Little Thing which has since hit almost 1.2 million streams.