Yaser Malik Is Zayn Malik's Dad – What We Know About Him

Zayn Malik's dad, Yaser Malik, is a proud father to four children, whom he shares with his wife, Patricia. Like many other parents, he only wants the best for his kids, so he refused to attend one of his daughter's weddings when she married an ex-convict. He also refrained from social media when people bashed Zayn.

Zayn Malik's name became known amongst television viewers when he auditioned for the British "X Factor" in 2010. Still, he only became an international superstar when he rejoined the competition show as part of One Direction.

In 2015, Zayn left the successful boy band to become a solo artist. He credits his dad, Yaser Malik, with influencing him to listen to musical icons and jumpstarting his interest in music.

Yaser Malik Is of Pakistani Origin

Yaser is of Pakistani descent but grew up as a British citizen in the United Kingdom since birth. He tied the knot with Patricia "Trisha" Malik, an English-Irish woman who converted to her husband's religion, Islam, after marriage.

The couple raised their children in Bradford under Islamic culture. "I made sure the children went to the mosque," she said. "Zayn has read the Koran three times."

According to the "Pillowtalk" artist, Yaser is a reserved and shy man who enjoys staying in Bradford. Although his son is a superstar, he would rather avoid the spotlight.

Besides Zayn, the couple also had other kids, Doniya, Waliyha, and Safaa, who supported their brother's singing career with One Direction.

Yaser Malik Refused to Attend His Middle Daughter's Wedding

Although it seems Yaser is on good terms with his children, the doting father refused to attend his daughter, Waliyah's wedding with Junaid Khan in 2020. Yaser did not want to attend the ceremony as he disapproved of Khan as a husband for his daughter.

Khan was jailed for five years in 2017 after carjacking the vehicle of an elderly. It wasn't the first time he got in trouble with the law; in 2014, Khan was involved in a family dispute that eventually led to physical harm.

The nuptials took place six houses from Yaser's residence, approximately 70 meters away. Yaser's son, Zayn, was also absent from the wedding.

Waliyah is a talented makeup artist who often works with her sister, Doniya, an influencer, blogger, and entrepreneur. Meanwhile, their other sister, Safaa, is already a mother to a little girl named Zaneya.

Zayn Malik's Dad Was His Main Influencer in Music

Zayn previously credited Yaser with being a significant influence in his career. Yaser introduced several artists to his son, including Bob Marley, Prince, and Notorious B.I.G. Zayn recalled:

"It was a lot of R&B, a lot of R. Kelly, a lot of Usher, a lot of Donell Jones, a lot of Prince. He used to play a lot of rap as well, 2Pac and Biggie. A lot of bop, a lot of reggae, Gregory Isaac, and weird artists like Yellowman."

Amidst his fame, Zayn tried to impress Yaser with the song "Flower," part of his "Mind of Mine" album. The track was written in Urdu, an Indic language, and allegedly reminded Yaser of singer Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.

Zayn Malik's Dad Stopped Looking at Social Media Because He Used to Get Upset

Although Yaser supports his son's career, he was reportedly unimpressed with Zayn's decision to leave One Direction.

In 2017, Zayn admitted that he still turns to his parents every now and then to remain grounded. He especially has a good relationship with his mom, with whom he spends quality time. Zayn Malik is also close to his father and paid tribute to him with a tattoo of Yaser's name behind his right ear.

As parents, Yaser and Trisha want nothing more than to protect their kids. Previously, Trisha revealed that she and her husband refrained from looking at social media to avoid the negative comments people would make about their son, often false narratives.

Similarly, Zayn wanted to protect his parents from the negative side of fame. In 2015, he installed a security fence around his parents' property as obsessed fans began rummaging through their trash. Fans would also knock on the door to ask for autographs or try peeping through the window.

Regardless of the ups and downs fame brought Zayn and his family, Yaser and Trisha are always there for him.