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| Dr. Iwan Kuswandi, M.Pd, the best graduate of UMM and the author of 25 books (Photo: Istmewah) |
Istiqamah in something is not an easy matter. Many challenges and temptations accompany it. He is Dr. Iwan Kuswandi, M.Pd. Thanks to his determination in writing, this best graduate of the University of Muhammadiyah Malang (UMM) produced 25 books and articles in national and international accredited journals.
This three-year graduate (S3), who was inaugurated on Tuesday (28/06), said that at first, he was not interested in the world of writing. While undergoing high school education (SMA) at a boarding school, he preferred to spend his time organizing rather than writing. But one day, one of the caretakers of the lodge asked him to write a biography of kyai Muhammad Tijani Jauhari.
“Initially, it was challenging for me to write the biography. But thanks to the help of the Kiai, I could finish writing the biography well. Since then, I have instilled the determination to be istiqamah in writing as part of my life,” said the Lecturer at the PGRI Sumenep School of Teacher Training and Education (STKIP).
Of the 25 books that have been written, Iwan, as he is familiarly called, admitted that there was one book that impressed him the most. The book is entitled Even Monkeys Can Study. In the process, the man from Sumenep struggled to dig up data and identify facts.
"This book discusses Islamic scholars' biographies and track records in Madura. The most felt difficulty is convincing the family and heirs of the scholars about this book. There was one memorable incident that happened to me during the process of writing a book, namely when I interviewed the grandson of Kiai Ahmad Dahlan Karay. All the answers he gave during the interview were don't know. That's enough to confuse me, "said the man born in 1987.
Regarding writing, the teacher at the TMI Islamic boarding school Al Amien Prenduan Sumenep said that his lectures at UMM played a major role in developing his writing. The significant improvement he felt since studying at UMM was that his papers were published not only domestically but also abroad. Even some of his writings can reach the index from Scopus.
"Writing is a message of Islamic da'wah as implied in Surah Al-Qolam verse 1, which means for the pen and what they write. In writing, it is not only a matter of idealism but also of benefiting others. For young people who are or want to write, I suggest increasing their istiqamah and don't give up easily during the process," he concluded. (cdr/syi/wil)
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