Palestinian Singer Mohammed Assaf Names Newborn Son After Moroccan Boy Rayan

"I thank Allah many times for His kind blessings for what He has given us," Mohammed Assaf wrote in a tweet on Monday, announcing that his wife had given birth to a baby boy a few days ago. The winner of the second season of Arab Idol, broadcast by the MBC network, also announced that he had named his newborn Rayan, in tribute to the Moroccan boy who died last Saturday after being trapped in a 45 cm diameter dry well for 5 days.

In a previous tweet, the interpreter of "roll with it" had expressed his condolences to the Moroccan people and the family of little Rayan, following the announcement of his death. "Our hearts ache. May Allah extend His mercy, #Rayan. Condolences to the family of the child, Rayan, to our people in Morocco and to all of us. We belong to God and to Him we shall return," wrote Mohammed Assaf.