By Asma Nadia
If life felt enough or even perfect, why should we write? I always believe, everyone has stories. As I believe, if one’s story will inspire and move many more people.
A friend who used to go to school with shabby uniform and hole in his shoes, now is working in prestigious company at high position. Some famous and successful people I have met also came from Indonesian family portrait who struggled with poverty and great deal of hardship.
Unfortunately, only a few knows the glooming sheet behind their current success. I believe, there are many living heroes around us, whose figures were looked for by many people. Also interesting figure whose insight, wisdom, and his/her experiences can act as a lesson to many people.
When I went to Holy Land on 2007, I met a hajj guide who was very wise. In his 50’s, he had gone for hajj for 28 times. If added to umra, maybe this man had gone to Holy Land for 50-70 times. Imagine how rich his experiences were. How many lesson can ummat (people) learned from him on every trip.
Jamaah who ever received his guidance were used to make the most of presence by asking about many things to digg his knowledge in. Therefore, it felt like such a tremendous lost when I heard the news about his passing away.
Sad, because firstly Indonesia just lost another ulama. Second, imagining how many losses we will endure. With the his passing, buried along with with him his knowledge, experiences, and knowing. Because, this man never wrote therefore there was no written trail ever left.
Of course, his students wrote about the late’s thoughts, experiences and struggle, but it must be different if the source wrote the whole stories in person. There would be details and emotions that shifted or reduced its power if other people shared the story. To me personally, one of the reasons to keep on writing is the understanding of how short is my age and how big is my desire to be remembered longer by both of the apples of my eyes.
One book before we passed away. Let’s start use our pens so we can be "eternal" and our short life will leave some memories in the hearts of our loved ones and public. Faced to three winners of Republika’s Novel Writing Competition, one of them was a 59 years old teacher who never wrote any single novel before, has supported my belief that anyone can write.
There are many ways, to improve your writing skills. By writing, not only success story but even someone's failure can inspire others. And, If God's wiling, by writing with sincerity, someone has open his ammal jariyyah or "uninterrupted charity" account. Because, knowledge tap will keep on flowing although heart no longer beats.
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