According to published rebana historian Ahmad Azmi, hadrah and kompang music came to Singapore in the early part of the 20th century through the Riau Islands and was popular till before the Japanese Occupation. The burgeoning number of groups that can be found between 1920s till 1941 ceased to exist when the war ended and continued to not be in practice as members and teachers focused on post-war rehabilitation.

However, once livelihoods were stabilised, there was a slow increase in the number of hadrah and kompang groups that came to be formed. The art form regained a staggering popularity within the Malay community. In 1988, after much campaigning from Majlis Pusat Singapura and Singapore Hadrah and Kompang Association (PEHAKS), People’s Association created a dedicated space for hadrah and kompang to provide access for the community to engage with and advance the performing art forms.

Hadrah and kompang are usually performed at Malay weddings to announce the arrival of the groom at the bride’s house and during the bersanding (sitting in state) when the bride and groom are on the pelamin (dais) for their relatives and friends to give their blessings. It is also common for these music forms to be heard at formal occasions like openings of conferences, inauguration of buildings, and other cultural-religious events such as Mawlid, an annual Islamic holiday that celebrates the birth of the prophet Muhammad.

Before any training or performance, performers in a hadrah and kompang ensemble are encouraged to carry out the following rituals:

1. Say a prayer
2. Give salam (greeting) to the Prophet Muhammad.
3. To set intentions based on the song and theme that will be played.

Firqatul Wannazam 1921 was established in 1921 at Geylang Lorong 16 by Syed Ahmad bin Syed Amir, a trader from Palembang. It was initially known as Firqatul Hadrah Wanazam, which translates to 'the hadrah and poetry group'. Although the group’s first decade was largely undocumented, the beginning of the group was written in brief on the front page of the group’s copy of Dewan Hadrah, which was gifted to Syed Ahmad by his friend who was passing through Singapore. 

The group suspended its activities when World War II started and resumed again in 1947. When it resumed its activities, the group was led by Syed Ahmad bin Syed Amir’s son, Haji Abdul Rahman bin Baso’ (also known as Pak Mo’). The group played for weddings and community events.

The longest serving leader of the group was the great-grandson of its founding father, Haji Othman Bin Haji Abdul Rahman, affectionately  known as Abah or Abang Man to many. He started with the group as early as seven years old and in 1964, at a tender age of 18, took over the leadership of the group from his own father. He taught his group all of the songs found in the Dewan Hadrah and with his daughter, they have managed to adapt and transcreate some of the Arabic songs to original Malay numbers and vice versa. 

He led the group until his passing in 2022 after which he was succeeded for a short period of time by his daughter Fadilah Hj Othman. She passed a few months after him.

The group is still active today.

Established in 1978, the Hadrah and Kompang Association of Singapore or more commonly known as PEHAKS, has been the community leader for the hadrah and kompang groups in Singapore. They organise competitions, workshops and advocate in the interest of the practice and the groups affiliated to the association.

Currently, the group is led by Jamaludin Idris.