Journal of Novel Ayat-Ayat Cinta

The novel Ayat-Ayat Cinta written by Habiburrahman El Shirazy tells about the story of an Indonesian Al Azhar student, Fahri. During his staying in Egypt, Fahri is involved in a complicated love with four different girls, a German girl named Aisha (later becomes his first wife), an Indonesian Al Azhar student named Nurul Azkiya, his Egyptian Copt[1] neighbor named Maria (later becomes his second wife), and his Egyptian Moslem neighbor, Noura. The four of those different girls are madly in love with him; however, ironically his ignorance about it is the main cause of lots of big troubles he has to face.

Thematically, we may classify this novel into a religious and romantic one. The love story is really touching and unimaginable. I’d never really imagine how happiness could immediately turns into terribly event. A joyful honeymoon changes into a dark prison. And many more of unpredictable events told in the plot.

Kang Abik, that’s how people call the author, softly and successfully infixes some Islamic values into the romantic plot. Fahri as the main character is the symbol who represents the message. He appears to be a perfect role model of what the Islamic teaching is meant to be. He shows us that Islamism can go hand in hand with any kinds of idealism. His harmonious fellowship with a Copt family, and his protective action to some Americans from the angry Egyptian’s disturbance on the sub way are the proofs. Again and again, through the plot, Kang Abik corrects the wrong assumption of the western—or even of the Moslem, themselves—about the position of women in Islam. He clearly clarifies how Islam actually treats women,—better than what they thought. How Islam rules polygamy is as not simple as it seems. And polygamy is not that bad. Polygamy is even better than cohabitation preferred by the western.

Kang Abik succeeded in creating a perfect character, Fahri, who should’ve been a perfect role model for the Moslem, and—or even—all people living in this world today. I, myself, even think this was pure purposely written-for-the sake of dakwah novel. The story of love was no more than packaging or marketing strategy.

Many times I read­—as many as I sobbed because of—this powerful, inspiring, encouraging, and amazing novel. I was in tears not because the story was touching, even the story really was, but because I took a pity on me, myself. As I read this novel, I was nothing but a sinful person who proudly dared to call himself a Moslem, and wasn’t a man enough yet to face the life.

Thank God for such a good man like Kang Abik.

I got thousands of lessons, including during the last time—hopefully it’s not for the last time—I read this novel for, respectfully and thankfully, Ibu Laela’s assignment.

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[1] A member of the Coptic Church