Ayat-Ayat Cinta in English (Signs of Love)

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Few disclaimers first:

1. I’m not the sort who reads romance novels.
2. I’m not the sort who reads Malay romance novels.
3. I’m not the sort who loves watching romance movies.
4. I’m not the sort who loves watching Malay movies.

And you may mix and match the above to get other combinations. Nevertheless, Ayat-Ayat Cinta, a novel by Habiburrahman El Shirazy (a graduate from Al-Azhar University) and now a movie as well, gets the thumbs up from me. Here are two main reasons why I feel the novel and movie are a tour de force for da’wah in today’s age:

1. The movie is a pull for teenagers and youth, because of it’s title. However when you finish watching the movie, it manages to successfully portray studying Islam as cool (studying all the way to university level I might add), being courteous and lowering your gaze as the hip thing that guys should do, and Arabic as the cool slang, encouraging the impetus to learn.
2. The movie is a pull for teenagers and youth to pick up the book, which is salted with Qur’an and hadith teachings.

Of course, there will be various camps to this one. However I’m looking at the da’wah in terms of what’s real today; what possible means can there be to da’wah to our youth. Hence it is in my sincerest opinion that the model that is Ayat-Ayat Cinta and its accompanying movie (kudos to the director for making the movie light yet still retaining some key aspects of religiosity) is one way to go to reach out to the MTV Muslim generation.

Now, back to my disclaimers. I usually read English books. So when recommended this particular title, the natural incentive would be to ask if there is an English version. Of course if you are still reading this, you’d probably be a bigger fan and know that there are only two versions of the book available, one in Bahasa Indonesia and one in Bahasa Malaysia. None in English. Yet.

A couple of my friends have suggested I lead this effort in translation, in which I emphasize to them that you really have to be effectively bilingual to attempt translation. Effectively bilingual… that means you are good at both languages and not just in one. Translation also is not about changing the text word for word. It’s about changing the language and yet delivering the same meanings.

But you know what? Let’s give chapter 1, paragraph 1 a go… and see if I survive.

(ORIGINAL)

1: Gadis Mesir Itu Bernama Maria

TENGAH HARI INI, Kota Cairo seakan membara. Matahari berpijar di tengah petala langit. Seumpama lidah api yang menjulur and menjilat-jilat bumi. Tanah dan pasir seakan menguapkan bau neraka. Hembusan angin sahara disertai debu yang bergulung-gulung menambah panas udara semakin tinggi dari detik ke detik. Penduduknya, banyak yang yang berlindung dalam flat, yang ada dalam apartemen-apartemen berbentuk kubus dengan pintu, jendela, dan tirai tertutup rapat.

(This following translation took 10 minutes… … and is perhaps the worst translation you’ll ever get to see. Brace yourselves.)

Chapter 1: The Egyptian Maiden is Maria

TIME: NOON, and Cairo is in wrath. The sun continues to shine brightly in the heavens. I imagine it engulfing the earth slowly with its every breath. The earth and sand give scents of hellfire. The gusts of wind of the Sahara carry the dust which folds and heats the air as far as eyes can see and skin can touch. Its residents take shelter, protected in their apartments, protected by their windows and blinds. All is kept shut.

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