18 December 2006

Qariah Maria Ulfah in LA Times




The Los Angeles Times, Sunday edition of 17 December published an interesting article about an Indonesian Quran reciter, a qoriah, Maria Ulfah. The piece, Her Koran Recitals Says A Lot, is authored by John Glionna, the Times staff writer, who has written several stories about Indonesia, in collaboration with Dinda Jouhana, the correspondence in Indonesia.

The article is very interesting particularly due its unbiased perspective. In fact, the whole piece is quite sympathetic and open---the perspective that is not always seen among many Western journalists. You must be aware that the usual approach taken by many Western media in the pretext of 'balance' is more likely to start with a few obvious good things, sided together with a bunch of regular criticism or such. This one is not like that at all; this is almost perfect.

Let us read some of Glionna's words:

In Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation, most schools have Koran recitation clubs. And women here, unlike in other Islamic nations where they often are excluded from the public sphere, are afforded higher status by a comparatively moderate culture. Girls are encouraged from an early age to compete alongside boys.

It is an atmosphere in which Ulfah thrived. In 1980, she won the women's title in an international Koran recitation contest in Malaysia, earning her national acclaim back home in Indonesia and launching Ulfah into the artistic and intellectual spotlight.

Suddenly, her voice was broadcast regularly on radio and television. She won recording contracts and was invited to perform her melodic recitations throughout the Islamic world and in the West.

In Indonesia, her performances filled football stadiums. In her a cappella recitations, Ulfah's wide-ranging voice brings a distinct mood to each Koranic text, as she uses flourishes, tempo and pitch through the use of various melodies. The result is a unique religious musical performance — more singing than chanting, as spiritual as it is artistic.


Yes, for many Indonesians, Maria Ulfah is certainly known widely.

I have known abou her myself since her well-remembered success in winning the recitation contest of 1980, Musabaqah Tilawatil Quran (MTQ), in Malaysia. I also remember Nanang Qasim as an Indonesian popular male reciter or qari along with Maria Ulfah.

All my brothers and sisters must have also been very familiar with her beautiful recitals, particularly because our father really loved to play the cassette loudly every morning, including to wake the children up for shubuh prayer (shalat).

Reading this piece is, therefore, truly heartening, given the way the LA Times describes Maria Ulfah. It is true that through her Quran recital skill, Ulfah has shown the world of her own effort to portray the true image of woman in Islam. This is in fact an issue of equality in gender which Islam teaches, even though to many non-Muslim it is seriously misunderstood.

Ulfah is 51 years old now and she has surely inspired many younger ones. As Glionna wrote, much of Ulfah success is due to her father's dream to show the world that woman is equal to anyone.

2 comments:

Unknown said...

"This is in fact an issue of equality in gender which Islam teaches, even though to many non-Muslim it is seriously misunderstood."

Actually it seems to me (as a westerner) that most Muslim societies misunderstand that too. Look at Saudi, Pakistan etc. Indonesia is a rare pearl in that respect.

For example, it's heartening to see Indonesian Muslim women showing their (growing power) power in society, when they speak out against polygyny.

Agusti Anwar said...

Well, John, you are right that the magnitude of understanding of this even within the Muslim societies can vary. Yet, it is just fair if all are willing to learn and understand. The spirit of understanding is the essence, both for intra- and inter-faiths. Regards, Anwar.