With his soothing vocals and inspiring refrains, Mostafa Atef has brought a rich sound to the Islamic canon. The Arabic pop melodies of 2014 LP Tayeb Awy and the transformative a cappella readings of 2015’s Tilawah highlight his grasp of traditional forms and contemporary idioms. His artful melding of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean notes resonates among youth in the Arab world—and as far as South East Asia. On “Qad Kfany” he spreads the wise words of scholar Imam Abdallah ibn Alawi al-Haddad while bolstered by a lush chorus, clarinet and strings.