Tuhan Manusia: A Review

In reading Faisal Tehrani's new novel 'Tuhan Manusia', I am struck by a few things. Mainly how unlike a novel it is. Take away the 'only just' plot, add a few footnotes and a bibliography, and you would've a formidable collection of essays, each demanding the reader digest it separately. Not that it's something that's easily read in one sitting, 'A Thousand Splendid Suns' this is not.

In this book, Mr Tehrani ambitiously tackles the topic of apostasy head on. A politically charged issue in muslim communities worldwide, but especially so in Malaysia, 'Tuhan Manusia' is unapologetic in its staunchly orthodox opposition against it, as well as against movements that call for 'radically liberal' (for lack of a clearer term) reinterpretations of Islam, which the novel considers the poisoned apple that tricks its victims into the ultimate sin of shirk.

The plot revolves around the life of Ali Taqi, a student, as he explores the realms of liberalism and pluralism. This is no hollow academic exercise for him. Rather, it is motivated by his hatred and disgust towards them following his brother's apostasy. Guided by his teachers and mentors, long (and not particularly novel-like) discussions ensue. Antagonistic characters exist in the form of Zehra, a schoolmate (and requisite love interest), and her father, Aris, a public figure associated with a liberal organisation, and they represent the opposite viewpoints in the story. The plot progresses as Ali grows more fervent in his opposition and activism, culminating in a public exchange between him and Aris, whom he holds responsible for his brother's actions.

As a novel, 'Tuhan Manusia' is well-written in an eloquent and excellent Bahasa Melayu, but that is to be expected from Faisal Tehrani, whose works are popular with both critics and readers. And as what I suppose is a mark of a skilled writer, for such a topic laden with emotions, Faisal has avoided smothering the reader with sentiments. And despite this being a book where apostasy is central, fire and brimstone rarely surface. When it is dished out, it is classy and measured.

Instead, the book aims squarely at the reader's intellect, thoroughly researched and replete with reference numbers and quotations, saving us the grief of public executions and 'de-flowerings'. And thankfully, 'Tuhan Manusia' is a free of kissing eyes and stolen glances. What is it with Muslim authors and repressed sexuality anyway?

Unfortunately, this is where the accolades end.

If traditional figures of authority and symbols are frequently painted as one-sided sneering characters in best-selling novels about Islam, here the opposite is true. Those in the 'liberal' camp are portrayed as ignorant, wayward and anarchistic personalities who spout pluralistic dictums without fully understanding what they mean, nor aware that they are mere pawns in a global conspiracy against Islam. And strangely, traditional figures are still not sneer-free.

Conspiracy theories notwithstanding, one cannot help but feel that the same kind of treatment towards orthodoxy is not mirrored towards opinions from the other camp. Readers are made to feel that the ideas espoused by the novel's liberals are not only destructive, but essentially worthless as well.

IMHO, this detracts from the novel's potential. If the author intended to bring some quality preaching (and we all know how plentiful those are) to the choir, he has succeeded. This book is no kuliah maghrib, with cheap laughs and double-entendres. A person with only wisps of distrust towards Liberal Islam prior to reading 'Tuhan Manusia', will certainly find himself well-armed and psyched for battle with those wayward liberals soon after. The number of Quranic verses among the text alone would dazzle some people, but it is highly improbable that the more rationally inclined would even care.

It is difficult to think of this book as any more than a reminder, almost like a novelised version of the anti-apostasy roadshows. The book does not traverse the distance between being purely demagogic to becoming the book that fundamentally changes the direction of the debate. If anything, hard-core supporters from both sides who read the book are probably only going to dig their heels in deeper, one side energised by the powerful arguments and proofs from Islamic texts, gaining some meaning for their oft-repeated slogans; while the other more convinced of the former's inability to think beyond them, thus strengthening the idea of sarong-clad kampung simpletons, clearly of an inferior intellectual plane.

So would I recommend it? Certainly.

If there's only one BM book you're going to read this year, this is it. Whatever disagreements the reader has with the author, there's no denying that this book makes an excellent read.

This book is Faisal Tehrani's salvo in the apostasy debate. It may not solve the problem, but 'Tuhan Manusia' does provide valuable insights into orthodox islam's views towards the burning issues of apostasy, pluralism, liberalism and fundamentalism, which are invaluable to anyone who wishes to understand the hatred and vitriol that abound.

'Tuhan Manusia' by Faisal Tehrani
is available at all good bookstores and online, at ujanailmu.com.my.