Najah Salam

A Lebanese actress and singer, born in Beirut. Her grandfather is Sheikh Abd al-Rahman Salam, the Mufti of Lebanon, and her father is the composer and oud player Muhyiddin Salam. Her brother is the journalist Abd al-Rahman Salam. She married a university professor, Salman Saad, and in 1955 she married the artist Muhammad Salman. They separated after 9 years and she gave birth to him. She worked on Al-Sharq Radio and sang for the first time in front of an audience in 1948. She became famous for the songs: “You Who Hurt the Heart,” “Barhoum,” “Ayez Guabatak,” “Bada Aris,” “Mail.” Then she traveled to Cairo and Al-Sunbati and Abdel-Wahab composed for her. She then resided in Damascus until 1953, and in 1956 she became famous for the song “O Most Precious Name in Existence.” She founded a production company with Salman. She produced her Lebanese films. She settled in Egypt during the Lebanese civil war, then returned in 1991. In 1998, she wore the hijab, but she did not turn away from singing.