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.

Bumbu C

"Bu, naha sih pasakan ibu mah enak wae?" 
"Teteh hoyong terang rahasiana?" 
"Muhun."
"Masakna kedah ngangge cinta."
"Maksadna kumaha, bu? emang aya bumbu cinta ciga bumbu penyedap?"
"Maksadnya, upami masak kedah aya kahoyong nyenengkeun, ngabahagiakeun orang-orang nu kita cintai anu nuang pasakan urang. dijamin sok, pasti enak."
"Ah teteh ge ieu pami masak ngangge cinta, perasaan, tapi nahanya rasana asa teu paruguh wae. mun teu hambar kaasinan atau kaamisan.huhhh mending ngajar da daripada masak.cuapeeee dehhhhh"
Ibu ku yang solehah, cantik, anggun, lembut, elegan, berwibawa, angelic dan lucu itu hanya tersenyum sambil geleng-geleng. Mungkin geli lihat anak perempuan sekaligus anak pertamanya yang "gapsak" a.k.a gagap masak (halah maksa pisan nya..wios lah!)
Berdasarkan pemantauanku selama ini terhadap ibu-ibu muda,alias para wanita yang baru menikah, kebanyakan memang tidak bisa masak. Dapur menjadi area angker seperti kuburan yang menyuguhkan peralatan masak yang menakutkan yang akan membawa mimpi buruk, cibiran atau selera makan yang hilang dari orang yang paling dicintai. Ya apalagi kalau bukan karena masakan kita yang enak, enak buat disingkirkan (kalau tidak mau dibilang "dibuang", so sarcastic ah!). 
Begitulah kenyataannya, seperti pengalamku mengamati saudariku yang sering menelepon ibunya untuk menanyakan resep berbagai masakan.
Atau aku merasakan langsung masakan teman perempuanku yang baru menikah, waktu itu soto ayam kalau tidak salah, yang sangattttttttt ditolak oleh mata dan lidah ini. Padahal setauku dia memakai bumbu instant! Bayangkan, bumbu instant itu harusnya bisa membantu seseorang memasak dengan rasa katakanlah at least setandar lidah kita pada umumnya. Belum lagi instruksi memasak jelas tertera di belakang kemasan. Tapi ini, haduhhhhhh, rasanya pengen dijadiin sesajen aja tuh makanan. hehehe, tinggal dilempar ke laut.
Atau dengan tidak sengaja aku mendengar curhatan teman wanitaku yang bilang masakannya selalu tidak enak. Maaf ya dia sendiri loh yang menghina masakannya. Ya aku diam saja sambil nganggung-ngangguk tanda mengiyakan.
Jujur, sebelum menikah, aku hanya bisa masak enak kalau bahan makanannya itu Kepiting atau Kerang. Kenapa? Karena mereka adalah binatang eh makanan favoritku. Kata ibu "Nya enak atuh masak eta mah da gampang, terus kan eta teh karesep teteh, nya pasti weh atuh enak." Kebanyakan selalu benar memang ucapan ibuku itu. Hanya karena makanan itu kesukaannku aku jadi pandai memasaknya, dan lebih lagi cara masaknya yang gampang tinggal di rebus tuh binatang trus tumis bawang bombay dan tomat sampai jadi saus tomat, crot crot saus sambal instant, tambah gula dan garam, jadi deh Kepiting dan Kerang asam manis. Tapi bagaimana kalau nanti aku menikah dan suamiku tidak suka masakan seafoodku yang sangat sangat sederhana?
Karena pengalaman orang lain, aku jadi waspada. Aku antisipasi hal tersebut dengan mencoba menuliskan resep-resep masakan ibuku yang selalu super enak. Tapi ternyata buku itu tidak rampung, keburu sibuk ngurus undangan dll. 
Lalu waktu cepat berlalu, tiba-tiba aku ada disini, di dapur dimana aku adalah kokinya. Aku yang dulu hanya menjabat sebagai asisten koki, koki benerannya ibuku, harus berhadapan langsung dengan wajan, talenan, panci, kompor sendirian. Aku dikeroyok nih. Tapi aku tidak mau kalah, aku ingat perkataan dan petuah ibuku. Aku ingat rahasianya. Bismillah...
"Enak, mantap, pas rasanya."
Aku langsung menjelma menjadi Sandra Bullock yang memenangi Ocsar untuk filmnya yang keren dan menyentuh, The Blind Side. Atau seperti Beyonce yang terpilih menjadi Best Female Artist yang menyabet Grammy Award. Aku sangat bahagia karena dapat penghargaan kata-kata simple namun bermakna dalam itu. 
Perkataan ibu ku benar, aku bahagia lebih karena bisa melihat orang yang paling aku cintai terpuaskan hasrat makannya karena makanan yang aku buat sendiri memakai bumbu rahasia.
"Udah tahu ya bumbu rahasianya?"
Aku mengangguk pasti. Bumbu C. C.I.N.T.A. 
Terima kasih ya Alloh, Kau beri aku kemampuan memasak makanan enak. Membuatnya senang dan kenyang.

Every cloud has a silver lining

Suatu pagi di hari sabtu yang hangat,seorang wanita muda pergi mengantar adiknya yang akan mengikuti ujian masuk pesantren.satu hari sebelumny mereka berdua menginap di rumah sang paman yang kebetulan bertempat tinggal dekat dengan lokasi ujian. mereka diantar paman dan dua adik sepupuny yang masih kecil-kecil. Sekitar jam delapan mereka sudah berada di areal pesantren untuk mengikuti jalannya ujian. Sesampainya disana sang adik langsung bergegas ke ruangan seperti yg tertera di kartu ujian yaitu ruang empat. Sambil mengucap bismillah dia memasuki ruang kelas lalu mengerjakan soal dengan teliti.

Sang kakak perempuan beserta paman dan dua sepupunya menunggu di areal pesantren sambil bercengkrama,bercerita atau terkadang membeli makanan kecil. Sang kakak sibuk berkirim sms dengan sahabatnya yang ternyata sudah sebulan sebelumnya merencanakan untuk berkunjung sekaligus menginap ke rumah sahabatnya itu yang kebetulan tinggal masih di kota yang sama meskipun harus menempuh jarak yang lumayan jauh karena letaknya di areal pegunungan. Dia bertekad untuk memenuhi janjinya. Namun sejak pergi dari rumah menuju kota tersebut,bapanya mengamanahinya agar menjaga adik-adiknya serta rumah selama bapanya berdinas di luar kota. Merasa bingung harus mendahulukan yang mana antara memenuhi janjinya untuk bersilaturahmi ke sahabatny atau menjaga rumah yg diamanahi bapany,sang kakak berusaha untuk bisa menjalankan keduanya sekaligus.

Tibalah waktunya ujian berakhir sekitar jam 12 siang. Alhamdulillah semua berlangsung lancar,tes tulisan mencakup tauhid,akhlak,tarikh,serta ilmu pengetahuan umum dan bahasa,sedangkan untuk ujian praktek melingkupi tes praktek solat dan hafalan al-Quran. Sang adik beserta paman dan dua sepupu kecil berencana pulang lgsg k rmh paman,sedang kakaknya bersikeras pergi ke rmh sahabatny sekedar ingin berkunjung sbntar lalu pulang lagi tanpa menginap. Lalu ia langsung menaiki angkot menuju rmh sahabatny. Sesaat setelah angkot melesat,ia melihat minimarket dan memberhentikan angkot menuju minimarket tersebut dengan niat membeli buah tangan untuk keluarga sang sahabat. Namun betapa kagetnya ia ketika hendak membayar barang yg ia beli,uang seratus ribu di sakuny hilang. Innalillahiwa innailaihirojiun..ucapny lirih,memang benar hilang. Tidak ada lagi kata selain ikhlas,ia bergumam dalam hati semoga uang itu akan bermanfaat bagi yg menemukanny dan menjadi nilai sodaqoh bagi keluargany.

Alhamdulillah untungny masih ada uang yg sangat pas pasan untuk membeli satu kaleng kue kering dan untuk ongkos hanya pulang pergi ke rumah temannya. Setelah itu ia lgsg menuju terminal menaiki angkot yg dituju,seperti biasa angkot pun mengetem dg santainy,padahal waktu sudah mnunjukkan pukul satu. Sedangkan waktu yg ditempuh sekitar dua jam. Ia resah karena setelah ini ia harus segera pulang karena rumahnya sudah ditinggal hampir dua hari. Ia terus mengingat akan amanah dari bapanya. Akhirny ia memutuskan keluar dari angkot itu dan dengan sangat menyesal mengirim sms sahabatnya tidak jadi berkunjung karena kehilangan uang. Sahabatnya tentu saja sangat sangat kecewa. Tapi dengan sabar ia menerangkan keadaan yang sebenarnya akhirnya sahabatnya menerima keputusannya dan Alhamdulillah ia tidak marah sehingga persahabatan merekapun tetap bersemi.

Ia lalu langsung bergegas menaiki angkot menuju rumah pamannya. Sesampainya disana paman,bibi,adik bertanya kenapa tidak jadi pergi,karena khawatir membuat resah semua orang terpaksa ia mengatakan bahwa angkotny terlalu lama ngetem. Bingkisan untuk keluarga sahabatnya diberikan kepada paman dan bibi,mungkin memang rezeki mereka. Sejak saat itu ia berniat suatu saat di depan jika Alloh Menghendaki ia akan memenuhi janjinya berkunjung ke rumah sahabatnya itu.

Lalu tak lama kemudian ketika sedang hanya berdua dengan sang adik,sang adik berkata bahwa ia mendapatkan rezeki menemukan uang seratus ribu di halaman masjid,dan ia bertanya mau diapakan uangnya. Subhanalloh ketika dilihat bentuk uangnya ternyata itu uang sang kakak yang hilang tadi…alhamdulillah uang itu akhirnya dipakai untuk ongkos pulang ke rumah.

Setibanya di rumah tidak disangka bapa yang katanya berdinas selama seminggu, pulang karena ingin mengambil beberapa pakaian bersih dan segera menyimpan pakaian yang kotor. Subhanalloh..tidak terbayang bagaimana jadinya jika bapa pulang dalam keadaan lelah lalu di rumah tidak ada siapapun karena ia yang diamanatinya malah menginap di tempat lain dan mengabaikan amanah orangtua yang harus dijadikan prioritas utama...

A wise person says that everything happens for a reason...

There's a saying says that every cloud has a silver lining, it means that there will be a lesson behind every trial.

Quran Al-Anam:59 says "And with Him are the keys of the unseen; none knows them except Him. And He knows what is on the land and in the sea. Not a leaf falls but that He knows it. And no grain is there within the darknesses of the earth and no moist or dry [thing] but that it is [written] in a clear record."