'I'm just me,' says Zayn

Zayn Malik has said he no longer considers himself a Muslim, saying he doesn’t want to be defined by any religion.

Malik says he still has a “spiritual” belief in God, but revealed he doesn’t believe in several of the main tenets of the Muslim faith.

“I was raised in the Islamic faith, so it will always be with me, and I identify a lot with the culture,” he told Vogue. “But I’m just me. I don’t want to be defined by my religion or my cultural background.”

Malik’s father Yaser is British-Pakistani, while his mother Trisha converted to Islam when she married Yaser. Both Zayn and his sister Safaa were raised as Muslim in Bradford.

Malik added: “I don’t believe you need to eat a certain meat that’s been prayed over in a certain way. I don’t believe you need to read a prayer in a certain language five times a day.”

Previously referenced as one of the highest-profile Muslims in the world, Malik attended the Muslim festival Eid al-Adha with his parents and his girlfriend Gigi Hadid. He had already stated that he “wasn’t practicing” as a Muslim. He told Vogue: “I have a spiritual belief in God.”

Last month, Malik released laidback new single ‘Fingers’, his fifth track since the One Direction singer’s 2016 debut solo album ‘Mind Of Mine’. He had previously said his second album was finished in March, but a release date has yet to be confirmed. His other new singles this year have been ‘Too Much’ – which features Timbaland – ‘Let Me’, ‘Entertainer’ and ‘Sour Diesel’.

Malik also recently appeared to confirm longstanding rumours that Taylor Swift travels between her concerts in a suitcase.