Lebanese diva Fairuz receiving condolences at the funeral of her son Hali at the Greek Orthodox Church of the Dormition in Mhaydseh, Bikfaya, in Mount Lebanon, northeast of Beirut, on Jan. 10, 2026. (Credit: NNA)
Lebanese diva Feyrouz on Saturday buried her second son, Hali, 68, following the death of her celebrated composer son, Ziad, last July.
The world-renowned nonagenarian arrived around noon at the Greek Orthodox Church of the Dormition in Mhaydseh, Bikfaya (Metn district), accompanied by her daughter Rima and her sister Hoda, to receive condolences before the funeral. Metn MP Elias Bou Saab was also present. Friends, relatives and numerous public figures, including many artists, arrived early. Behind her dark glasses, Fairuz appeared visibly shaken by this latest loss.
At 3 p.m., the funeral mass took place at the church, attended by a crowd of faithful, as well as ministers Paul Morcos, Ghassan Salameh (Minister of Culture), and Laura Lahoud (Minister of Tourism), along with Elias Bou Saab. The service was officiated by the Greek Orthodox Bishop of Mount Lebanon, Mgr Salwane Moussi.
“We value you greatly because you are a mother, and what could be more beautiful than seeing parents present their children to the Lord?” Mgr Moussi said in his homily. Of Hali, he remarked that he “did not allow himself to be overcome by the difficulties, sufferings, selfishness, and challenges of life, but remained a sign of God’s presence in this family.” He added: “I see in Feyrouz a mother who has given everything to her country and, at the same time, gave her son all her love and energy, and that is a great glory.”
Messages of support
First Lady Nehmat Aoun spent time with Fairuz and the Rahbani family. When asked by journalists to comment upon leaving, she said, “On a day like this, I can only see Fairuz as a mother, and we can only wish her, like any mother who has lost a child, the patience to overcome her grief.”
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam’s wife, Sahar Baassiri, also offered condolences, along with Egypt’s ambassador Alaa Moussa and other dignitaries. Members of the Rahbani family, including cousins of the deceased, were present.
Fairuz's loss has touched many online. A video showing the singer, known for her discretion, dabbing her tears behind dark glasses has circulated widely on social media.
The stream of visitors continued throughout the day. Minister of Information Paul Morcos, who offered his condolences to Fairuz, wrote on X: “Today, we learned from diva Fairuz patience in the face of losing a loved one… The words of her song ‘Salute Him for Me’ (inspired by Hali) take on new meaning as she mourns her second son in less than a year. She teaches us patience, just as her eternal musical legacy teaches us joy. This family will not disappear.”
Hali Rahbani: A life close to his mother
Hali, the youngest son of Fairuz and composer Assi Rahbani, was very close to his mother, who cared for him from birth in 1958. He had suffered severe aftereffects from childhood meningitis, leaving him nearly quadriplegic, with intellectual disabilities compounded by blindness and deafness. Fairuz had always refused to place him in an institution, preferring to keep him by her side. Hali was two years younger than his brother Ziad.
