Summary Book

Title of book                : Cogito Allah Sum

Author                         : Lalu Muhammad Zaenudin

Number of pages         : 290                Date published: January 2008

Fiction or nonfiction    : Fiction

What is this book about?

This novel tells the story of a young man named Rian in search of God. He is a student at a college math major city. His parents, including a religious family in their village.

Rian originally religious, because of her social in the city, he became not believe in the existence of God. Until he got a mysterious message from his father who realizes that he has never prayed again, his father told, if he realized he had ripped the rug, then immediately re-knitting yarn mat with love and sincerity, then, God willing, will you achieve ultimate happiness. This is of course only he considered the wind  and thought that was ridiculous.

But, although he thinks like that, his mind was still thinking about his father's message. He thought hard and still no answer. Answer "smart" he found, maybe his father just talking nonsense, just to motivate me in worship, but have not I been free from God, so he thought.

Rian carried away with his thoughts about the absence of God. He occasionally became speaker in the forum of enlightenment, one of them talk about religion and God. He was so proud of his thinking. At the forum , he met a girl that captivated his heart, her name is Firna. Firna also joined in the forum's enlightenment.

From that introduction, it turns out Firna also interested in Rio, but because Rian does not say his feelings on Firna, Firna dating with Rio, a close friend Rian. Automaticly, Rian felt betrayed by Rio, resentment grew.

Rian tried to woo Firna  by saying that Rio may be a boyfriend, but before that, Firna must be dating with Rian, Firna agreed.

Two weeks went by, Rio knew this and felt betrayed Rian. Rio plead to Rian to release Firna for him, because he was dependent on Firna. Amid the debate, Rio heart disease relapse.

Rian who knew it immediately says that he will indeed be releasing Firna because he just wants to play around with Firna. Firna angry and slapped Rian. Rian go with laugh out loud but weep sore in the liver. Actually he did not want to hurt Rio.

The days he went through with great sadness and emptiness. Until an accident happened to him. He was comatose. People who hit him responsibly and care for him. The man named Mr. Abdullah.

From that event, he got a new family. He often visited Mr. Abdullah's home, helping Putri’s homework, child of Mr Abdullah. He was also interested in Mr Abdullah's eldest daughter, Eni. Eni is a devout Muslim. Muslim clothing makes Rian feel comfortable.

Mr. Abdullah's family, including a devout family, so when Rian says that he is not religious and do not believe in God, Mr. Abdullah decided silaturrahim rope. Rian frustrated, he drank alcohol until drunk. Amid the turmoil, he went to the mosque and started praying when he was drunk. He tells all of his problem and complained to the God in an angry tone, but still he think that God actually exists or not. Suddenly there is a set of youths who beat him, they think Rian is ordinary people who stole a charity box at the mosque. He was beaten up black and blue. Luckily, Mr. Haj come to his rescue and treat the wound.

There, he heard the strains of beautiful verses from Al-Qur’an, at first he wanted to chase away  but his peace when to hear it, he realized he also wanted the peace of the soul, not just peace of mind in rationality.

Then he asks Pak Haji to introduce him to the God is in his heart again.

Since then he began to actively read religious books and follow the propagation studies campus. Hope and zest for life began to emerge and surge in the liver.

He continued to study and learn. In seriousness to know God, there is a question from a member of the forum enlightenment, named Berdy. Berdy asked about whether God could create something great, such an impenetrable shield and sword are very sharp and if God could be creating something more powerful than God, not God almighty creator?

Rian created dilemma by this question. Once asked in many places, he still did not get a response. Until Pak Haji show who can answer it, he is Hajj Mustafa , who is none other than his own father. Apparently Mr. Hajj and his father were close friends. So, whatever happened to Rian, his father already knew everything.

Rian feel very guilty to his father for having to cover all of this. he begged forgiveness of his father and mother.

Rian got the answer from The question, his father explained that the question of the sword and shield it like a game of numbers. Both have different strengths. In the numbers game, they must be distinguished in the power points. For example swords and shields have +5 points and -5 points, then in mathematical logic to +5 + (-5) = 0. So the result was not there.

Likewise with the second question, before answering that question, we must agree on the meaning of the word “Great”, “Great” it's not something that is infinite, that is not his equal again. So when there are questions to create a rival of something great, almighty mean he defines it is not infinite finite.

Rian is very familiar with his father described a simple explanation. He wondered why things like this he is not thought of before.

Now he has realized that the more he thought about the nature of God, God is getting there. God's undeniable by any rational philosophy and logic, represent phosphorescent glow a very clear mental tranquility.

What is the best part? In my opinion, the best part of this novel are when Rian re willing to learn to know God and realizes that his father was not another man from what he thought before.