Essam Sasa releases 'El Doonia Asya' song amid legal troubles

Mahraganat singer Essam Sasa has released a new song titled "El Donia Asya" (Life is Harsh) on his official YouTube channel. This release comes just days after the Giza Criminal Court in Egypt sentenced him to 6 months of imprisonment with labor.

According to Sasa's Instagram page, the song and its accompanying music video were recorded a month ago. This timing makes it seem like the song predicted what would happen to Sasa in the next few weeks.

The first verse of the song serves as a prayer, with Sasa expressing hope that God will not abandon him during this crisis:

"God, because You know me well, You won't let them gloat over me one day
Capable and Generous One, hear me and save me
I know You won't leave me
Your trial means that You love me
Even the earth's bricks are fighting me
Wearing me out"

In the second verse, Sasa complains about the state of shock and sadness that has overtaken him since the incident in May when he accidentally ran over a person on the Cairo ring road:

"Oh, from life, was all this hidden?
I'm not okay, and the shock might stop my heart
Drowning in a sea of tears, with no one by my side
I have nothing left in my hands but to pray to my Lord"

The release of this emotionally charged song so close to his sentencing has led to speculation about whether it was a prescient warning of his legal troubles or if it's a cry for help from behind bars. The song's timing and words make Sasa's current problems feel even sadder.