It is a phenomenal novel from Indonesia, that has been filmed and take a huge success (both film and the novel). This is a novel about Islam and
love in Islam.
It sets in Cairo, Egypt, about Indonesia college student (master degree) named Fahri. He studies at Al Azhar University to get his master degree. Fahri is a son of a tape seller (tape=fermented cassava) that is so religious and keep his religion at the first line. He never misses his time for shalat (pray time).
He's been famous around many women, and almost all of them fall in love to him. Let's say, there's Nurul (she's a college student at Al Azhar from Indonesia, a daughter of a very famous kiai (tittle or reference for venerated scholar), Maria (she's a Coptical Christians, and also Fahri's neighbour), then Noura (She's also Fahri's neighbour that has been abused for many years by her own family), and the last one is Aisha (she is a Germany girl that meets Fahri for a couple time, and she is also Fahri's future wife).
One day, his spiritual teacher ask him whether he wants to get married or not, because he wants to introduce his friend's niece to Fahri. He agrees to do ta'aruf (Islamic way to introduce man to a woman, before they get marry), apparently this girl is Aisha.
Then they've got married, and live happily, but it's not long period, because one day Fahri is arrested because of a rape case. He's been accused for raping Noura.
How can be a very religious person like Fahri do those kind of crime?
Do Fahri did it?
Or Noura tells a lie and accuse Fahri?
Did Aisha believe this accusation or she will support his husband?
Just read one of the greatest Indonesia novel to find out the answer. A religious romantic novel, that is so polite. A novel that tells a love story in Islamic and east way.
What a bright author. Two thumbs up!
More summaries about the Verses of Love (Ayat-Ayat Cinta)