Warm applause, tears, and ululations... a majestic scene at Ziad Rahbani's farewell

In the early hours of Monday, July 28, 2025, Beirut began to bid farewell to one of its most prominent cultural icons .

A sad morning farewell at Fouad Khoury Hospital Friends and well-wishers gathered in front of Fouad Khoury Hospital in Hamra, where Ziad Rahbani's body was placed in a private hall for a final farewell. The scene was anything but ordinary; the square was filled with crowds, ululations and tears rose together, and warm applause mingled with sadness, in a sincere moment that combined great love and grief over the loss. The audiences, who had followed Ziad for years, through his theater, his lyrics, and his melodies, bid him farewell as if they were bidding farewell to a part of their own conscience.

A march to the Church of the Dormition of the Virgin in Al-Muhaydathah After people flocked to the hospital, the body was transferred in a grand procession to the Church of the Dormition of Our Lady in Mhaydtha (Bikfaya), where prayers for his soul will be held at 4:00 PM. The road to the church turned into a long farewell march, lined with hundreds of people carrying his pictures and singing their favorite songs. Ululations continued to follow the coffin, and tears streamed down the faces of those raised by his work, in a moment where glory mingled with sadness.

Condolences from all generations The Dormition Church's living room was open from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. to receive condolences from his loved ones, companions, and members of the arts, media, and politics. The scene inside the church reflected the magnitude of Ziad's impact, as the sixties generation met with today's youth in the memorial corridors. The mourning ceremonies are scheduled to continue on Tuesday, July 29, at the same time, as expressions and emotions continue to flow in the presence of his passing.

An eternal legacy that will never be erased from memory The passing of Ziad Rahbani left a deep shock across the Arab world. His voice was unique in expressing people's issues and contradictions. His theater was a space for confrontation, laughter, and contemplation, from "What About Tomorrow?" to "A Long American Film," while his music formed a bridge between East and West, blending nostalgia with rebellion. His songs, from "I Am Not an Infidel" to "Aisha Alone Without You," became anthems for an entire generation. Ziad was not just an artist; he was a phenomenon that will never be repeated, and his passing left an unfillable void, but his presence in the ear and memory remains, unfading.