The power of writing is extraordinary

By: Urip Santoso

Most Spectacular Findings

What is the most spectacular human invention of all time? Perhaps your answers will vary. Maybe you’ll answer the computer! Maybe your answer is also cellphones, space vehicles, planes and many more answers. Were the findings you mentioned discovered in an instant? No it’s not! For example, the discovery of the plane has gone through various processes. In the past, people who were about to be sentenced to death were used as initial research objects for the human desire to be able to fly. People were given artificial wings and told to jump into the abyss. Then thought after thought, research after research was carried out and finally the reason why birds could fly was discovered. After the law was discovered, a series of research began and finally human desires came true. However, research continues to be carried out to improve previous findings, so that a more perfect aircraft can be obtained.

 So with what media can scientists study previous findings? Is the plane dismantled and examined? Ah, of course it takes too long and is expensive and the results are not yet clear. So? Through written media. By writing, past history can be known. With writing, previous findings can be studied. With writing, humans can remember the past that may have been forgotten. By writing, someone can express their feelings. Writing can be an effective medicine. Writing can also be a source of inspiration.

So, the most spectacular discovery of all time is writing, after the discovery of language. Humans can indeed communicate verbally, but verbal communication is very limited and very dependent on the memory of a community. It is true that through speech culture humans have been able to develop, but the spread of culture through (oral) speech is very limited. Likewise, if there are findings that are disseminated orally, it is very likely that there will be a lot of distortion. Besides that, it won’t last long. It could be that in the end the findings disappear without a trace.

God’s revelation reaches humans today also through writing. Through this writing, the authenticity of the Qur’an can be maintained. The Qur’an enshrines the importance of writing in Surah Al Alaq verses 1-5. In this letter, Allah juxtaposes the word Iqra (read) with the word ‘allama bi al-qalam, which teaches with qalam (pen/writing). Gordon Smith (Mudrajad : p. 3, 2009), 18th century British politician stated: “Reading without writing is like having wealth left to accumulate without being utilized. Writing without reading is like digging water from a dry well. Not reading or writing is like a person without wealth falling into a well full of water.” Qatadah (Mudrajad: p. 4, 2009), a Salaf scholar, in Tafsir Al Qurthubi stated: “Writing is the most expensive blessing given by Allah, it is also an intermediary for understanding something. Without it, religion will not exist, life will be directionless…” Apart from the command to read and write, there is also a command to think in the Al-Quran with verses that hint at this, such as the use of the word ulul albab “people who understand (think)” in the letter Ali-Imran verse 7 After the process of reading and thinking, Allah SWT. ordered humans to write. This hint regarding writing is expressed in the third verse of Surah Al-Alaq which reads “Those who teach (humans) by means of the qalam (pen).” Even Allah SWT, swears “Nun, by the Qalam (pen) and what they write” in the first verse of Surah Al-Qalam. This also indicates the importance of writing activities. So, reading, thinking and writing are God’s commands, because with these activities humans are able to develop their faith and knowledge so that they can become caliphs on this earth.

Some Phrases

1) “If you can’t express it in words, try to express it in writing,” (A. Wahid/Gusdur).

2) Our writing today is tomorrow’s memory”, Septian Siagian (Baby Campus)

3) “A person can be judged by the content of his writing, because what he writes is what he thinks”, Septian Siagian (Baby Campus).

 4) Reading does not necessarily mean writing, whereas if we write, we definitely read.

5) A thousand mariams will not make me withdraw from war, but one tip of the pen makes me think a thousand times about fighting (Napoleon Bonaparte).

 6) It seems that we can use Syaidina Ali’s statement as food for reflection: “Bind knowledge with writing, so that it does not evaporate in the face of time (Ali bin Abi Talib).

 7) Knowledge is prey, and writing is its binding force. So, tie the prey with a strong rope.

8) Reading and writing are like two sides of a coin (Urip Santoso).

Several Benefits

1) Writing can help someone convey information effectively and writing can help someone be braver in expressing their words.

2) Writing helps us to communicate with people who are busy with time, who don’t have much time to listen.

3) Knowing and mastering past history, which can be used as a basis for the present and future.

 4) Writing helps us to remember and record it for the future.

5) Writing can help someone convey information effectively.

The Power of Writing

            There is no doubt how great the influence of writing on humans is. In Western countries, the press is referred to as the fourth power, after the clergy, the nobility and the people. This term was first coined by Thomas Carlyle in the first half of the 19th century. This shows the power of the press in carrying out advocacy and creating political issues. Therefore, it is not surprising that the press is often feared, or even “bought” by those in power. Da’wah can also be done through writing, both in print and electronic media. Nowadays how great the war of information and science and technology is. The country that controls information and science and technology is the one that will rule the world.

Based on historical facts, it has been proven that a great nation is a nation that writes. Look at the Greeks and Romans, they were considered great nations because of their legacy of writings which contained the policies, science and art of their people. Likewise, the Egyptians left similar writings on stones and pyramid walls for future generations to read. It is also a historical fact that the renaissance masses who lifted the European nation from the dark ages were because they wanted to read writing. Likewise with the Islamic golden age where intellectual works were absorbed and spread from and to all corners of the world through a medium called writing (although here there is also an element of spreading knowledge through oral tradition through the intercession of teachers). And if we want to look into history, our nation’s independence was also inspired by news of the victory of a small number of Asian nations over white nations which was also achieved through writing. Furthermore, the first command revealed to Muhammad SAW was Iqro’ – Read -, where this word implicitly requires an object to be read, namely writing. Everything we have mentioned above is clear proof that writing is a power.

Reading, as a logical consequence of “writing” is something very important and has a central role in human life, as does writing. There will be no reading activity if there is no writing. A piece of writing can trigger major changes, and this has been proven to be the case throughout history. He can wake up sleeping souls and then make them move and change the world. If the power of writing is said to be so powerful, then writing should be a very important power. Imagine how strong a nation would be where writing has become a daily tradition. What differentiates R.A. Kartini with other people? Why did he become history? What makes the difference is the writing. His writings have truly made him a historical figure for our nation. Writing is eternal. What we will write now will become history in the future regarding current conditions, current culture, current politics, current science. Therefore everything we write is not something in vain.

We can share all our experiences and knowledge through writing. The power of writing can also bring changes to the reader’s perspective. An article with various arguments can direct the reader to follow the author’s point of view. A piece of writing can be a medium of provocation like Soekarno’s speech which resonated and shook the soul. A piece of writing with spices of sadness can bring a level of emotion to the reader. Therefore, the power of writing is truly great. Through the notes made, the glories of the past, or even civilizations that once existed, can be “turned upside down” by writing. Like Columbus, who proudly proclaimed himself the discoverer of the Americas, the next problem later turned out to be a big mistake – that’s another thing. The most important thing is that the whole world has been brainwashed for hundreds of years – that Columbus was the discoverer of the Americas. The power of writing is extraordinary. We know that the state of Israel was formed due to inspiration from a book. A thin book written by Benyamin Se’eb alias Theodore Herzl entitled Altneuland (Old New Land). It was this book that encouraged Jews to seize territory from the hands of the Palestinian people. This proves that the power of writing is not only as a means of gaining knowledge but also as a means of provocation.

The writing culture

A writing culture needs to be developed. Writing culture is a habit of conveying messages, expressing opinions and creating documentation. By writing we will have the habit of conveying systematic opinions. Writing also stimulates creativity. By writing, fresh ideas will emerge. Fresh ideas that emerge must be quickly documented. This documentation is made in writing, with documentation the fresh ideas are not lost. In this modern era, of course, it is very easy for us to document our writing.

We must cultivate this writing habit from childhood. By writing, we can learn and evaluate how we convey messages, so we will be wiser in conveying messages to other people. When Bung Hatta was detained by the Dutch colonialists for a relatively long time in Boven Digul Irian prison (now Papua), he wrote a phenomenal book entitled “Paddling Between Two Rocks”. The book then became the “basic” for the implementation of Indonesia’s free and active foreign policy. Meanwhile, when Bung Karno (Sukarno) was detained in Bandung’s Sukamiskin prison for a relatively long time, he wrote a phenomenal book entitled “Under the Flag of the Revolution”. The book inspires the younger generation with the noble values of struggle.

For the Academic Community, the large number of writings published in scientific journals is an indicator that the university in question has quality that it is proud of, even world class if the writings of its lecturers and students are widely published in international scientific journals. In an effort to improve the culture of writing intelligently and creatively, students in particular must be able to train themselves to continuously write. In order to create writing that has historical value, the writing must provide inspiration, motivation and hope for many people. Some writings are scientific and some are scientific/popular. The problem is that there are still many people who find it difficult to write and even include lecturers, teachers, students and students. Even those who have written a lot still find it difficult to develop their writing. Many senior lecturers also find it difficult to turn scientific writing into popular scientific writing. In fact, this is one of the duties of lecturers and students as well as other scientific communities to convert scientific findings into popular scientific writing so that they are easily understood by the wider community. So, the culture of writing needs to be developed, not only from entering higher education, but to the extreme, even as early as possible, namely from when a child understands reading and writing. The culture of writing and reading really helps the learning and teaching process in schools in particular, and in society in general. We cannot learn to be smart without reading and writing, although there are many other methods that can also be used to make someone smart and intelligent. The culture of writing really helps to facilitate social relations and interactions between individuals and community groups, so that it can facilitate cooperative relations in resolving all problems, including even resolving disputes between nations. It is through writing that we can contribute to the development of science, technology, culture, and so on in order to improve the welfare of society.

In today’s rapidly advancing era of information technology, writing remains a reliable communication medium. In fact, the problem is relatively simple and will not be a big problem for any university if students get used to writing from the start of their studies. Let’s take an example, students must get used to or are required to write papers twice a week. Because they are used to writing, if a graduate has to make a 10 page summary of his thesis which is approximately 100 pages to be published in a scientific journal, then for the person concerned this obligation is not a difficult thing.

Worth Worship

In the Al-Qur’an text contextually it can also be understood that writing is an “obligation” with the command of the obligation to read. Writing, however, is useful for society at large. Therefore, writing must be encouraged. Not only for academics. How proud it would be if people in the business world, law enforcers, officials and even housewives were good at writing, so that books about all kinds of professions could be obtained easily. Writing is worth worship when it is based on sincere intentions because it is to achieve Allah’s blessing alone. Lastly, the writing we write is a good reminder of our own and other people’s behavior, and is also a way for other people to remind us.

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]