Manjadda wajadda is the key to success

An inspiring novel especially for pesantren graduates like me

If you do not feel like watching domestic ordinary movies most of them telling about teenage lovers, family conflict, (sorry to say) sex comedy, or horror yet vulgar casts, you might not want to miss this hilariously inspiring movie telling about the power of determination and perseverance; Negeri 5 Menara (five towers land). You will feel no regret watching this movie since there is a myriad of advantages you could take after moments of shedding tears, lauging out loud, feeling touched, getting motivated and especially for me and those who used to study in an Islamic boarding school will be having heartfelt and vivid memories of spending precious adolescent times in pesantren.

This movie is one of a kind considering the setting is pondok pesantren called Pondok Madani (abbreviated as PM). I think most Indonesian movie lovers are not that familiar with Islamic boarding school because there is only a few of producers or directors who are interested in making that kind of movie (before this movie was released, there are some pesantren setting movies such as Sang Pencerah and Dalam Mihrab Cinta). Fortunately, for other alumnus of Islamic boarding school, this movie really represents their deepest thought about making the wildest dreams come true including going to a prominent university and going abroad regardless people’s assumption concerning the flaws they had because of studying Islamic values inpesantren would hinder them to get that dream. 

The battle of exhibiting who can pursue the greatest dream to study in ITB (Institut Teknologi Bandung) between Alif and his best pal, Randai, had dragged him to fight with his parents’ decision of sending him to PM. Randai, other people, even Alif himself thought it was impossible for a pesantren graduate to pursue such dream in the result of pesantren lack of science knowledge and social subjects. Alif assumed it would be a very ordinary dream if he finished studying from PM and later he ended up as a religion teacher or a preacher.  That is why he and his best buddies, Raja, Said, Dulmajid, Atang and Baso, called Sohibul Menara decided to have extraordinary dreams instead. Besides it occured to them to have special talents and he similarly was gifted a linguitic potential that led him to be an excellent journalist one day.

Alif’s parents were portrayed as wise and attentive parents. Eventhough he was againts his parents’ decision of sending him to PM, their parents were able to tame his stubborness by making him understand of their hope that PM could make him good at Islamic values and a decent muslim. This disagreement was overcome with tender, caring and love communication between parents and their son, especially his father. They were able to go through it withoung getting into a fight and hating each other due to the proper communication; his father told him exactly what their dream about him was, what kind of person that they expected him to become, and eventually he could comprehend it and granted what his parents wished. This kind of parental guidance and communication that every child needs; to be understood what goal and dream he or she wants to achieve and to understand what his or her parents wish them to achieve in life. By having an open communication, their either slight or bold distintive vision will eventually meet in a solution agreed by both sides like what happened to Alif and his parents. 

Vividly, the values were taught to him and other santri in PM, made them realize that they must live their life to the fullest. There is a value says that the greatest man is someone who gives most beneficial things to others. This makes them always willing to help one another. They did not mind lending money when their friends need it. Nor did they mind sharing foods with roomates. Even when it came to someone’s biggest problem such as deciding to quit the study because he must take care of his sick grandmother, they cared for him and tried to find another alternative to choose though he finally had to quit it. This kind of solid friendship or what-so-called brotherhood is probably merely found in pesantren surroundings since the living togetherness in pesantren forms its own warmest athmosphere among its residents. This movie obviously depicts that people who spent their youth in pesantren were thought to be the kindest man not the one that our media recently exposed them in a very deceptive way; telling our society that they are terorrists. 

Spending youth in PM was not as horrible as Alif imagined before. The strict rules, stern teachers, disciplined and tight schedule always frightened him and made him unwilling to settel down. Only his accidental fraternity with Sohibul Menara that motivated him to bear and fit in PM and all its regulations. Along with his best friends, Alif learned how to live independently; doing chores by himself, being responsible for all decisions, studying all nights to pass the exam, coping the situation of being broke (running out of allowance) and many of others. Being independent does not mean that they did not help each other out during hard times. It is because they also were taught that the best human being is the one who gives more benefits to others. They shared the predicament they faced, they helped finding out the solution, they helped each other lending some money to those who more needy, as yougsters they even helped each other violating the school rules. The memorable moments Alif spent with his best friends in PM are delighfully  described in the movie; the fun, the amusing events, the jokes, and so on. 

Religious, decent, devout and inspiring teachers (usually called Ustad, arabic term) had turned Alif and all of his friends to have faith that santri (pesantren students) like themselves had the same capability and opportunity as modern students did. They spreaded the magical and charming principle of manjadda wajadda (those who are determined will surely succeed). This saying was injected everyday to the santri(students). They were on fire to do all school works not only because of their responsibility to the school but also as the worship they did to Lord. Every deed they conducted was based on lillahita’ala (seeking Lord’s willing). Many Islamic principles were taught to them in the hope that they would become both a great muslim and a great dream pursuer. In other words, they were expected not only to succeed in life but also succeed in afterlife. 

Finally, this movie is absolutely worth watching for everyone especially those who desire to get something more than a joy and entertaiment, something is a invaluable life lesson. This movie offers beyong that, to be precise, it gives us the spirit of perseverance and dreams. Keeping faith in God’s Greatness and believing in ourselves as well as having our parents’ and friends’ supports also prayers are most likely the menu for our success.  And for me this movie is so special for it brings back my memory to my precious moments spending my adolescence to study in pesantren.