definition symbolism and referent with example

Symbols

Communication is preeminently symbolic. There are two major categories of signals people send: signs and symbols. Signs are the foundation of all communication. A sign designates something other than itself, and meaning is the link between an object or idea and a sign (Littlejohn 64). These primary ideas link together an astoundingly wide set of theories administering with symbols, language, discourse, and nonverbal forms, ideas that elucidate how signs are affiliated to their meanings and how signs are disposed. The study of signs is commonly referred to as semiotics.

 

Charles Sauders Peirce, founder of modern semiotics, defined semiosis as a relationship among a sign, an object, and a meaning. The sign is a natural event that has a direct, inherent connection with what it represents. Pierce accredited to the representation of an object by a sign as the interpretant. For example, a blush is a sign of individual unease called embarrassment, and a bear track in the woods is a sign that a bear has passed. The word embarrassment or thought that a bear has passed is not the word or thought, but the association you make (the interpretant) links the two. All three elements are required in an irreducible triad in order for signs to operate (Littlejohn 64). This three-part connection is distinctly represented in a renowned model produced by C.K. Ogden and I. A. Richards.

 

Signs and Symbols

¡  A sign is something we directly encounter, yet at the same time it refers to something else. Thunder is a sign of rain. A punch in the nose is a sign of anger. An arrow is a sign of whatever it points toward.

¡  Words are also signs, but of a special kind. They are symbols. Unlike the examples cited above, most symbols have no natural connection with the things they describe. There’s nothing in the sound of the word kiss or anything visual in the letters h-u-g that signifies an embrace. One could just as easily coin the term snarf or clag to symbolize a close encounter of the romantic kind.

 

ymbolism in Literature 

Symbolism is often used by writers to enhance their writing. Symbolism can give a literary work more richness and color and can make the meaning of the work deeper.
In literature, symbolism can take many forms including:

• A figure of speech where an object, person, or situation has another meaning other than its literal meaning. 
• The actions of a character, word, action, or event that have a deeper meaning in the context of the whole story.  

Metaphors As Symbolism

A metaphor is a figure of speech that uses symbolism.

• It compares two things that are not similar and shows that they actually do have something in common.  
• In a metaphor, there is an additional meaning to a word. This makes it an example of symbolism.

Examples of symbolism that take the form of metaphors include:

• Time is money: This is symbolic because it warns you that when you spend your time, you are giving up the opportunity to be doing something else with that time (just as when you spend your money, you give up your chance to do something else with the money). Further, like money, time is not infinite. 
• Life is a roller-coaster: This is symbolic because it indicates that there will be ups and downs in life that you have to weather.  
• He is a rock: This is symbolic because it signifies that he is strong and dependable. 
• Love is a jewel: This is symbolic because it suggests that love is rare and pressure. 

Allegory As Symbolism

Sometimes symbolism takes the form of a literary tool called an allegory. Allegory is an extended use of symbolism and metaphors. A story, a poem, or even a whole book can be an allegory and the symbolism will permeate throughout.
One example of an allegory is the monologue from Shakespeare in “As You Like It.”

“All the world's a stage,And all the men and women merely players;they have their exits and their entrances;And one man in his time plays many parts,” 

This is symbolic of the fact that people are putting on a show and that they play many roles over the course of their lives.


 

Symbolism in Poetry

Many poets used symbolism to deepen the meaning of their poems. Here is an excerpt from William Blake's “Ah Sunflower.” In it, Blake refers to life cycle and uses sunflowers to represent humankind and that they desire everlasting life.

“Ah Sunflower, weary of time, Who countest the steps of the sun; Seeking after that sweet golden clime Where the traveler’s journey is done;” 

Symbolism in Everyday Life 

Our language contains an immense number of symbols whose intended meaning or significance is well-known and accepted by the majority. Of course, many of these do wind up in books, magazines, stories, and other written works.
Symbolism is found in colors:

• Black is used to represent death or evil.
• White stands for life and purity.
• Red can symbolize blood, passion, danger, or immoral character.
• Purple is a royal color.
• Yellow stands for violence or decay.
• Blue represents peacefulness and calm. 

Symbolic Objects

Objects are often used to symbolize something else:

• A chain can symbolize the coming together of two things.
• A ladder can represent the relationship between heaven and earth or ascension.
• A mirror can denote the sun but when it is broken, it can represent an unhappy union or a separation. 

lowers as Symbols

Even flowers can have a symbolism:

• Roses stand for romance.
• Violets represent shyness.
• Lilies stand for beauty and temptation.
• Chrysanthemums represent perfection.

Symbolism, as you see, can be found almost anywhere. Any time there is something that represents more than its literal meaning, this can be an example of symbolism.

this is example image about the symbolism.

smile and methapora

What is Simile ?

Simile Definition

A simile is a figure of speech that makes a comparison, showing similarities between two different things. Unlike a metaphor, a simile draws resemblance with the help of the words “like” or “as”. Therefore, it is a direct comparison.

Function of Simile

From the above discussion, we can infer the function of similes both in our everyday life as well as in literature. Using similes attracts the attention and appeals directly to the senses of listeners or readers encouraging their imagination to comprehend what is being communicated. In addition, it inspires life-like quality in our daily talks and in the characters of fiction or poetry. Simile allows readers to relate the feelings of a writer or a poet to their personal experiences. Therefore, the use of similes makes it easier for the readers to understand the subject matter of a literary text, which may have been otherwise too demanding to be comprehended. Like metaphors, similes also offer variety in our ways of thinking and offers new perspectives of viewing the world.

Difference Between Simile and Metaphor
As stated above, simile and metaphor are often confused. Though the difference is simple between the definition of simile and that of metaphor, it can be profound. While simile compares two things with the connecting words “like” or “as,” metaphor simply states that one thing is the other. For example, a simile would be, “He was as aggressive as a tiger in that argument,” whereas a metaphor would be, “He was a tiger in that argument.” Metaphors are thus subtler and can be stronger in a rhetorical sense, because they equate the two things in comparison rather than just present them as similar. Similes, however, allow for truly bizarre comparisons that make the reader stretch to understand the connection between them.

Significance of Simile in Literature
Simile can be an excellent way for an author either to make an unusual thing seem more familiar (i.e., “The planet Zenoth was as cold as ice”) or a familiar thing seem more unique (i.e., “Her smile was jagged like a broken zipper”). In this way, similes can help the reader imagine the fictive world of a piece of literature. Good similes can also make readers think about things in a new way, and can sometimes create a lasting effect. Scottish poet Robert Burns’s declaration that his “luve’s like a red, red rose” forever linked the concepts of love and red roses in our minds.
Simile can also sometimes be used to show a comparison, though with the conclusion that these two things really are unalike or even at odds with each other. This can either be a negative simile, which might come in the form of “A is not like B” (see Example #1 below) or an ironic simile, which communicates the opposite of what is expected at the beginning of the statement. For example, the famous feminist quote popularized by Gloria Steinem, “A woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle,” ultimately concludes that a woman has no need for a man.
Simile can help to make new connections for the reader. One of literature’s purposes is to help better explain the world around us, and the technique of simile is one of those ways in which we are able to see things in a new way. All types of analogies are cognitive processes of transferring meaning from one thing to another, and thus the use of simile in literature has real synaptic effects. For this reason, and for aesthetic purposes, simile has been a popular literary technique for many hundreds of years.

 Examples of Similes
White as a ghost.
Swims like a fish.
Runs like a cheetah.
Slippery as an eel.
A simile can be as descriptive as the writer chooses.

Examples of more descriptive similes:
He was as brave as a lion in a fight.
He was as angry as a bull at a red flag.
He swam like a fish through rough waters.
Similes are used in poetry to create different effects, to create an image of comparison in the reader’s mind of what the writer is describing.

konotation, denotation and implication

Definition and Example Denotation, Connotation, and Implication 

Denotation Definition

Denotation is generally defined as literal or dictionary meanings of a word in contrast to its connotative or associated meanings.
Let us try to understand this term with the help of an example. If you search for meaning of the word “dove” in a dictionary, you will see that its meaning is “a type of pigeon, a wild and domesticated bird having a heavy body and short legs.” In literature, however, you frequently see “dove” referred to as a symbol of peace.

Denotation Examples in Literature

Let us analyze a few examples from literature:
1. An example of denotation literary term can be found in the poetic work of Robert Frost’s “Mending Wall”:

“And on a day we meet to walk the line
And set the wall between us once again.
We keep the wall between us as we go.
To each the boulders that have fallen to each.”

In the above lines, the word “wall” is used to suggest a physical boundary which is its denotative meaning but it also implies the idea of “emotional barrier”.
2. William Wordsworth in his poem “A Slumber Did My Spirit Seal” says:

“A slumber did my spirit seal;
I had no human fears–
She seemed a thing that could not feel
The touch of earthly years.
No motion has she now, no force;
She neither hears nor sees;
Roll’d round in earth’s diurnal course
With rocks, and stones, and trees.”

Wordsworth makes a contrast between a living girl and a dead girl in the first and second stanza respectively. We are familiar to the meanings of the words used in the last line of the second stanza; rock, stone and tree but the poet uses them connotatively where rock and stone imply cold and inanimate object and the tree suggests dirt and thus the burial of that dead girl.
3. Look at the following lines from Shakespeare’s play “As you Like It”:

“All the world’s a stage,
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances;
And one man in his time plays many parts,”

Shakespeare moves away from the denotative meanings of words in the above lines in order to give a symbolic sense to a few words. “a stage” symbolizes the world, “players” suggests human beings and “parts” implies different stages of their lives.
4. Sara Teasdale in her poem “Wild Asters” develops a number of striking symbols by deviating from the denotative meanings of the words:

“In the spring, I asked the daisies
If his words were true,
And the clever, clear-eyed daisies
Always knew.
Now the fields are brown and barren,
Bitter autumn blows,
And of all the stupid asters
Not one knows.”

Function of Denotation

Readers are familiar with denotations of words but denotations are generally restricted meanings. Writers, therefore, deviate from the denotative meanings of words to create fresh ideas and images that add deeper levels of meanings to common and ordinary words. Readers find it convenient to grasp the connotative meanings of words because of the fact that they are familiar to their literal meanings.

Difference between Denotation and connotation

The terms, denotation and connotation, are used to convey and distinguish between two different kinds of meanings or extensions of a word. A denotation is the strict, literal, definition of a word, devoid of any emotion, attitude, or color. The connotation of a word or term adds elements of emotion, attitude, or color. The meaning or use of denotation and connotation depends partly on the field of study.

The meaning of denotation and connotation

• In media-studies terminology, denotation is the first level of analysis: What the audience can visually see on a page. Denotation often refers to something literal, and avoids being a metaphor. Here it is usually coupled with connotation, which is the second level of analysis, being what the denotation represents.

• In logic, linguistics, and semiotics, a denotation of a word or phrase is a part of its meaning; however, several parts of meaning may take this name, depending on the contrast being drawn:
• Denotation and connotation are either
  • in basic semantics and literary theory, the literal and figurative meanings of a word, or,
  • in philosophy, logic and parts of linguistics, the extension and intension of a word

• Denotation can be synonymous with reference, and connotation with sense, in the sense and reference distinction in philosophy of language.

• In Computer science, denotational semantics is contrasted with operational semantics.

• In Semiotics, denotation also has its own meaning.

In logic and semantics, denotational always attracts the extension, meaning "in the pair," but the other element genuinely varies.
The distinction between connotation and denotation corresponds roughly to Gottlob Frege's ground-breaking and much-studied distinction between Sinn (sense) and Bedeutung (reference).
Bertrand Russell, in 1905, published a seminal article on the topic of denotation, entitled "On Denoting."
Denotation often links with symbolism, as the denotation of a particular media text often represents something further; a hidden meaning (or an enigma code) is often hidden in a media text.

Definition of Connotation

A connotation is a subjective cultural and/or emotional coloration in addition to the explicit or denotative meaning of any specific word or phrase in a language.

Usage

Within contemporary society, connotation branches into a culmination of different meanings. These could include the contrast of a word or phrase with its primary, literal meaning (known as a denotation), with what that word or phrase specifically denotes. The connotation essentially relates to how anything may be associated with a word or phrase, for example, an implied value judgment or feelings.

• A stubborn person may be described as being either "strong-willed" or "pig-headed." Although these have the same literal meaning (that is, stubborn), strong-willed connotes admiration for someone's convictions, while pig-headed connotes frustration in dealing with someone. Likewise, "used car" and "previously owned car" have the same literal meaning, but many dealerships prefer the latter, since it is thought to have fewer negative connotations.
• It is often useful to avoid words with strong connotations (especially disparaging ones) when striving to achieve a neutral point of view. A desire for more positive connotations, or fewer negative ones, is one of the main reasons for using euphemisms. (Although, not all theories of linguistic meaning honor the distinction between literal meaning and connotation).

Logic

In logic and in some branches of semantics, connotation is more or less synonymous with intension. Connotation is often contrasted with denotation, which is more or less synonymous with extension. A word's extension is the collection of things it refers to; its intension is what it implies about the things it is used to refer to. So, the denotation or extension of "dog" is just the collection of all the dogs that exist. The connotation or intension of "dog" is (something like) "four-legged canine carnivore." Alternatively, the connotation of the word may be thought of as the set of all its possible referents (as opposed to merely the actual ones). So saying, "You are a dog," would imply that the subject was ugly or aggressive rather than a literal canine.

As nouns the difference between implication and connotation is that implication is (uncountable) the act of implicating while connotation is a meaning of a word or phrase that is suggested or implied, as opposed to a denotation, or literal meaning a characteristic of words or phrases, or of the contexts that words and phrases are used in.

English

Noun

(en-noun)

(uncountable) The act of implicating.

(uncountable) The state of being implicated.

(countable) An implying, or that which is implied, but not expressed; an inference, or something which may fairly be understood, though not expressed in words.

(logic) (countable ) The connective in propositional calculus that, when joining two predicates A and B in that order, has the meaning "if A is true, then B is true".

Derived terms

* material implication * strict implication

Related terms

* implicate * implicative * implicit * implicitness * imply

 connotation

English

Noun

(en-noun)

A meaning of a word or phrase that is suggested or implied, as opposed to a denotation, or literal meaning. A characteristic of words or phrases, or of the contexts that words and phrases are used in.

The connotations of the phrase "you are a dog" are that you are physically unattractive or morally reprehensible, not that you are a canine.

A technical term in logic used by J. S. Mill and later logicians to refer to the attribute or aggregate of attributes connoted by a term, and contrasted with denotation .

The two expressions "the morning star" and "the evening star" have different connotations but the same denotation (i.e. the planet Venus).

Denotation is the literal meaning of a word as defined by its context. Connotation is the suggestion or implication represented by a word which alludes to its social context.
The most common example to use is the red rose. Red is the denotation of a colour, and rose is the denotation of a flower. Together they present a description of a flower of a particular colour: a red rose. The connotation of red rose is a symbol for love. The words red and rose simply describe a noun in terms of its colour and define a type of flower. Social convention has meant that the red rose as an idea represents or symbolises love.

definition, types, and example about euphemism

What is Euphemism?

 

A Euphemism is a polite inoffensive expression words or phrases replaced for one considered offensive or hurtful that contrarily might be considered bitter, blunt or unpleasant to hear. In short, the term euphemism refers to courteous, unintended expressions which is the substitution of an agreeable or inoffensive expression that replace words and phrases considered harsh and disrespectful or which suggest something unpleasant. When the aim is not to offend or hurt someone with honest intentions. 

Possibly there is no other word in English for which there are more euphemisms than for the verb “to die.” When someone dies, we say he passed away, passed on or simply passed. Or he is in a better place now, gone on to his heavenly reward or as the doctor may have said just as the patient breathed his last breath. “She expired.”

Lets consider a few more Examples:

• Collateral damage instead of accidental deaths
• Use the rest room instead of go to the bathroom
• Between jobs instead of unemployed
• Domestic engineer instead of maid

Types of Euphemisms

 

To Soften an Expression - Some euphemisms are used to make a blunt or obnoxious truth seem less hard.
Examples:

• Passed away instead of died
• Differently-abled instead of handicapped or disabled
• Relocation center instead of prison camp
• Letting someone go instead of firing someone
• On the streets instead of homeless

Euphemisms to be Polite - Some euphemisms are used to take the place of words or phrases one might not want to say in polite circle.
Examples:

• Adult beverages instead of beer or liquor
• Big-boned instead of heavy or overweight
• Vertically-challenged instead of short
• Economical with the truth instead of liar
• Between jobs instead of unemployed

Euphemisms to be Impolite - euphemisms are intentionally a callous or insensitive way of saying something. These euphemisms are usually used when being sarcastic or trying to make light of a serious subject or make it seem less serious.
Example:

• Bit the dust instead of died
• Blow chunks instead of vomited
• Bit the farm instead of died

Examples of Euphemisms

 

Euphemism is frequently used in everyday life. Let us look at some common euphemism examples:

• Retarded - mentally challenged
• Blind - Visually challenged
• Crippled - Differently abled
• Bald - follicularly challenged
• Poor - economically marginalized
• Fat - gravitationally challenged, Overweight
• Lazy - motivationally deficient
• beggar - panhandler, homeless person
• coffin - casket
• old age - golden age, golden years
• criminal (adj) - illegal
• confinement - detention
• lawyer - attorney
• sick - indisposed, ill, under the weather
• toilet - john, WC, men's room, restroom, bathroom, washroom, lavatory

Euphemism in sentences:

• He is always tired and emotional (drunk). He is a special child (disabled or retarded).
• You are becoming a little thin on top (bald).
• Our teacher is in the family way (pregnant).
• We do not hire mentally challenged (stupid) people.
• The individual was accused of appropriating funds.
• Joey isn’t broke, he is having temporary negative cash flow.
• Sam isn't buying a used car, he is purchasing a pre-enjoyed or pre-loved vehicle.
• Dian's supervisor laid him off because he was unmotivated.
• Politicians don't commit crimes, they 'make mistakes.'
• I don't care if you keep smoking, you'll be the one pushing up the daisies at the age of 40, not me!
• Putting stray dogs to sleep is the most humane thing to do.

echniques for Creating Euphemism

Euphemism masks a rude or impolite expression but conveys the concept clearly and politely. Several techniques are employed to create euphemism.

• It may be in the form of abbreviations e.g. B.O. (body odor), W.C. (toilet) etc.
• Foreign words may be used to replace an impolite expression e.g. faux (fake), or faux pas (foolish error) etc.
• Sometimes, they are abstractions e.g. before I go (before I die).
• They may also be indirect expressions replacing direct ones which may sound offensive e.g. rear-end, unmentionables etc.
• Using longer words or phrases can also mask unpleasant words e.g. flatulence for farting, perspiration for sweat, mentally challenged for stupid etc.
• Using technical terms may reduce the rudeness exhibited by words e.g. gluteus maximus.
• Deliberately mispronouncing an offensive word may reduce its severity e.g. darn, shoot etc.

Euphemism Examples in Everyday Life

Euphemism is frequently used in everyday life. Let us look at some common euphemism examples:

• You are becoming a little thin on top (bald).
• Our teacher is in the family way (pregnant).
• He is always tired and emotional (drunk).
• We do not hire mentally challenged (stupid) people.
• He is a special child (disabled or retarded).

Examples of Euphemism in Literature

Example 1

Examples of euphemism referring to sex are found in William Shakespeare’s “Othello” and “Antony and Cleopatra”. In “Othello”, Act 1 Scene 1, Iago tells Brabantio:

“I am one, sir, that comes to tell you your daughter and the Moor are now making the beast with two backs.”

Here, the expression “making the beast with two backs” refers to the act of having sex.
Similarly, we notice Shakespeare using euphemism for sexual intercourse in his play “Antony and Cleopatra”. In Act 2 Scene 2, Agrippa says about Cleopatra:

“Royal wench!
She made great Caesar lay his sword to bed.
He plowed her, and she cropped.”

The word “plowed” refers to the act of sexual intercourse and the word “cropped” is a euphemism for becoming pregnant.

Example 2

John Donne in his poem “The Flea” employs euphemism. He says:

“Mark but this flea, and mark in this,
How little that which thou denies me is;
It suck’d me first, and now sucks thee,
And in this flea our two bloods mingled be.
Thou know’st that this cannot be said
A sin, nor shame, nor loss of maidenhead;
Yet this enjoys before it woo,
And pamper’d swells with one blood made of two;
And this, alas! is more than we would do.”

In order to persuade his beloved to sleep with him, the speaker in the poem tells her how a flea bit both of them and their blood got mixed in it. This is a euphemism.

Example 3

“The Squealer”, a character in George Orwell’s “Animal Farm”, uses euphemisms to help “the pigs” achieve their political ends. To announce the reduction of food to the animals of the farm, Orwell quotes him saying:

“For the time being,” he explains, “it had been found necessary to make a readjustment of rations.”

Substituting the word “reduction” with “readjustment” was an attempt to suppress the complaints of other animals about hunger. It works because reduction means “cutting” food supply while readjustment implies changing the current amount of food.

Function of Euphemism

Euphemism helps writers to convey those ideas which have become a social taboo and are too embarrassing to mention directly. Writers skillfully choose appropriate words to refer to and discuss a subject indirectly which otherwise are not published due to strict social censorship e.g. religious fanaticism, political theories, sexuality, death etc. Thus, euphemism is a useful tool that allows writers to write figuratively about the libelous issues.


Here are some particularly amusing examples, except where downright offensive.

1. If you are offered a career change or an early retirement opportunity, a career or employee transition, or you are being involuntarily separated, or if personnel is being realigned or there is a surplus reduction in personnel, or the staff is being re-engineered or right sized, or if there is a workforce imbalance correction then: You’re fired!

My Lecture

Dosen saya bernama Mr. Budianto Hamuddin, dia salah satu dosen di Universitas Lancang Kuning atau biasa di sebut UNILAK. Dia adalah seorang dosen yang ramah, murah senyum dan begitu penyayang pada anak-anak. Dia juga salah satu dosen yang begitu di senangi oleh mahasiswa, karna dia selalu memberi memotivasi kepada mahasiswanya untuk lebih baik lagi dan lebih pintar. Saya adalah salah satu mahaiswanya, belajar dengan pak budi ini ada rasa takut, ada rasa senang dan ada juga rasa kesalnya.

Pertama saya masuk belajar sama pak budi itu di mata kuliah MORPOLOGY AND SINTAX, di smester empat. Dulu saya pernah mengis karna persentasi saya di kelas jlek, mungkin itu salah saya karna saya tak menguasai bahan persentasi saya dengan baik. Dibeberpa mata kuliah selanjutnya saya selalu bermasalah dengan mata kuliah pak budi, entah kenpa, saya juga tak tau,,...Terkadang saya selalu merasa sedih, meskipun saya selalu berusaha untuk bisa hadir di mata kuliah pak budi dan berusaha untuk buat tugas dengan sebaik-baik mungkin, tapi akhir smester saya selalu bermasalah dengan mata kuliah yang saya ambil sama pak budi.

Menurut saya pak budi itu orang yang enjoy, namun terkadang juga bikin kesal. Karna saya selalu bermasalah dengannya di akhir smester. Pak budi sebenarnya baik, tapi saya merasa sangat sulit untuk mendapat nilai yang bagus dengannya. Ntah karna apa,,.!!! Dimata kuliah Error Analysis saya juga bermasalah di akhir smester dengan pak budi, saya dulu pernah di panggil di kantor, tapi saya tak menemuinya, dan saya pernah menyelesaikan persentasi saya di saat KRS harus di tandatngani PA saya, tapi PA saya tak mau menandatangani KRS saya, karna nilai saya sama pak budi belum di keluarkan, dan saya harus persentasi dikantor, tapi alhamdulillah nilai saya dikeluarkan setelah siap persentasi oleh pak budi.

Memang terlalu sering saya bermasalah dengan pak budi, dari smester empat dan samapai sekarang saya smester enam. Sebenarnya pak budi orangnya tak tega’an, jika di temui dikantor dia selalu berbicara dengan lembut, dan sangat baik. Tapi saya selalu merasa kesal dengannya, ntah kenapa saya merasa selalu takut setiap kali dia mengajar dikelas semejak saya persentasi smester empat kemaren, saya selalu takut dengannya. Setiap pak budi masuk di kelas saya selalu merasa resah, takut dan merasa tak nyaman.

Pak budi orangnya sangat pintar dan begitu banyak pengalamannya di dunia pendidikan, terkadang dia hadir sebagai dosen dikelas dan kadang dia juga hadir sebagai Mario Teguh sang motivator yang hebat. Hanya saja ada beberapa hal yang membuat saya merasa kesal dan kesal dengan pak budi. Tapi saya begitu senang melihat pak budi yang begitu lembut sekali pada anak-anak, sampai dengan hari ini itu yang membuat saya begitu kagum dengan pak budi, karna kelembutannya pada anak-anak. GOOD LUCK SIR,....................!!! 

Kisah cinta Yang tak biasa

Kisah ini nyata, meskipun terlihat seperti kisah dalam novel-novel romansa islami dengan tokoh fiktif yang mendeskripsikan sosok ideal nan shalih dari seorang hamba Allah. Perempuan ini tampil dalam pentas kehidupan dengan membawa sesuatu yang berbeda dari kebanyakan kaum hawa. Ketika banyak dari mereka yang menentukan kriteria suami yang tampan, mapan dan pintar, ia lebih memilih pilihan Allah yang didapati melalui senandung doa istikharah yang senantiasa dipanjatkannya.

Dia dikenal dengan wajah manis dengan hias dua lesung pipitnya, kesantunan perangai yang menjadi keanggunannya, ghirah berdakwah yang mempesona dan kesederhanaan dalam kesehariannya. Oleh karena itu, tak sedikit laki-laki tertarik padanya. Ada yang hanya sekadar menyampaikan perasaan cintanya, mengajaknya pacaran, ta’aruf, dan juga melamar. Akan tetapi dari sekian banyak kisah dalam perjalanan cintanya, ada satu kisah yang akan saya tuliskan di sini. Kisah cinta yang tak biasa.

Suatu hari ketika ia menginjak tahun kedua diperkuliahannya, lagi-lagi untuk kesekian kalinya ada seorang pria yang mendatangi tempat perempuan itu (baca : kos-kosan). Pria itu menjadikan pemilik kos sebagai perantara agar dia bisa berkenalan dengan perempuan tersebut. Pria itu adalah seorang dosen di universitas swasta yang akan melanjutkan pendidikan beasiswa S3 di Australia. Cinta itu hadir karena tempat tinggal mereka yang berdekatan, sehingga ia merasa yakin untuk menyatakan cintanya dan memberanikan diri untuk mulai berkenalan dengan perempuan itu.

Awalnya, perempuan itu ragu ketika pemilik kos mengabarkan kepadanya bahwa ada seorang pria yang ingin berkenalan dengannya. Akan tetapi setelah ia mengetahui bahwa pria itu adalah seorang muslim yang rajin ke masjid sehingga terbayang adanya sosok keshalihan. Selain itu, pria tersebut adalah seorang dosen yang akan melanjutkan studi S3 di Australia sehingga terbayang adanya sosok kecerdasan, akhirnya, dia menerima tawaran itu dan memutuskan ingin berkenalan dengan pria yang berprofesi sebagai dosen tersebut.

Hari perkenalan pun tiba. Keduanya berkenalan dengan didampingi oleh pemilik kos. Mereka saling berkenalan satu sama lain sebagai sarana untuk memantapkan pilihan bagi si pria dan memantapkan ja waban bagi si perempuan. Pada perkenalan itu, ada tumbuh kemantapan hati dari si perempuan karena ternyata selain pintar dan shalih, pria itu juga tampan. Perkenalan itu dilanjutkan dengan saling tukar nomor HP. Kurang lebih, selama sebulan mereka melakukan proses perkenalan.

Sebulan kemudian, sang Pria meminta agar perempuan itu bisa menjawab lamarannya dalam waktu tiga hari dikarenakan pemberangkatannya menuju Australia sudah semakin dekat. Pria itu telah yakin akan pilihannya dan bersungguh-sungguh untuk menikahinya. Tampaknya si perempuan juga sudah memiliki jawaban. Dengan semua pertimbangan dan juga izin dari kedua orangtuanya, dia sudah mempunyai kecondongan untuk menerimanya. Menerima cinta pria tersebut untuk menikah dan membangun cinta bersama. Akan tetapi, perempuan itu tak lupa akan sabda sang Rasul yang diabadikan oleh Imam Bukhari tentang perintah shalat istikharah :

“Ya Allah, sesungguhnya aku beristikharah padaMu dengan ilmu-Mu. Aku memohon kekuatan dengan kekuatan-Mu, aku minta kepada-Mu dengan kemuliaan-Mu. Sesungguhnya Engkau yang menakdirkan dan aku tidaklah mampu melakukannya, Engkau Yang Maha Tahu sedangkan aku tidak mengetahui. Engkaulah yang mengetahui perkara yang ghaib. Ya Allaah jika engkau mengetahui bahwa perkara ini baik bagiku dalam urusanku di dunia dan di akhirat, maka takdirkanlah (pria yang meminangku) untukku, mudahkanlah untukku dan berkahilah ia untukku. Ya Allaah, jika Engkau mengetahui jika perkara tersebut jelek bagi agama, kehidupan dan akhir urursanku, maka palingkanlah ia dari ku dan palingkanlah aku darinya. Takdirkanlah yang terbaik untukku apapun keadaannya dan jadikanlah aku ridho dengannya.”

Dia melibatkan Allaah dalam prosesnya. Ia gantungkan jawaban kepada-Nya. Berharap keberkahan dan keridhaan mengiringi rumah tangganya.

Hari itu tiba. Hari di mana ia harus menjawab lamaran pria itu untuk lanjut atau tidaknya proses menuju pernikahan. Pagi itu, Ia sudah memiliki jawaban yang akan disampaikannya pada malam hari, yakni untuk menerima lamarannya. Akan tetapi ia tidak menyangka bahwa pagi itu merupakan hari di mana Allaah benar-benar menunjukkan jawaban dari shalat istikharahnya. Ketika ia keluar rumah untuk mencari makan, tiba-tiba ia dikagetkan dengan sosok seorang pria yang berpenampilan kaos polos dan bercelana pendek. Pria itu tidak asing lagi bagi perempuan itu karena malam ini ia akan menerima pria tersebut sebagai suaminya. Ya, pria itu adalah dosen yang melamar perempuan itu. Akan tetapi, dalam sekejap keinginan untuk menerima lamaran pria itu hilang. Seketika pemandangan pagi itu membuatnya berubah pikiran. Ketertarikan ia akan kepintaran, keshalihan (yang sebelumnya ia bayangkan) dan ketampanan pria itu hilang seketika ketika ia melihat aurat pria itu di tempat umum. Pemandangan yang biasa diremehkan oleh kaum lelaki pada umumnya itu dijadikan tolak ukur baik atau tidaknya seorang muslim di mata perempuan itu.

Dan pada akhirnya, kisah ini diakhiri dengan penolakan. Meski demikian, bukan berarti manisnya cinta tidak bisa kita kecup dalam kisah ini. Manisnya cinta dalam kisah ini terukir ketika seorang hamba melibatkan Allah yang Maha Mecintai (dengan shalat istikharah) dalam proses perjalanan mencari cinta. Dan juga, manisnya cinta akan terasa ketika kecintaan seorang hamba kepada Allah dan syariat-Nya melebihi dari apapun yang ada di dunia ini. Perempuan itu telah merasakan manisnya cinta, ia menjadikan ketidakacuhan seorang pria terhadap auratnya menjadi tolak ukur baik buruknya seorang pria. Karena, pria yang baik tidak akan meremehkan syariat dan perintah Allah sekecil apapun itu.

OBSERVASI CINTA ISLAMI

RUBRIK CERPEN PEMBACA:

Suara adzan memecah lamunanku yang sedari tadi mengikat pikiran ini dengan begitu eratnya. "Astaghfirullah..." dan aku tersadar telah membuang waktuku sedari tadi hanya untuk memikirkan masalah ini, dan akhirnya aku langkahkan kaki ini menuju suara adzan tadi, mengambil air wudhu berharap dapat menghapus kebimbangan hati ini. Shaf sholat terlihat masih sepi, dengan penuh harap aku bermaksud mencurahkan segala kegundahan ini ke pada Sang Ilahi. Langkah ku terasa berat dan terus terbayang semua masalahku. Desakan dari kedua orangtua ku untuk segera menikah , tentang studi dan karir yang harus aku korbankan semua itu terasa cukup menyiksa batin dan pikiranku. Satu, dua...dan satu persatu shaf telah terisi, giliran suara iqomah pertanda sholat akan segera dimulai.
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Setelah cukup lama diguyur hujan, suasana sore ini masih terlihat mendung dan masih terlihat genangan genangan percikan air yang menjelma menjadi embun embun kecil yang seakan tak mau lepas dari dedaunan yang mengikatnya, Aku berjalan keluar dari masjid usai sholat dzuhur berjama’ah tadi, cukup lama menunggu hujan reda di dalam masjid dengan tilawatil qur’an oleh beberapa jama’ah ibu ibu.Rasanya saya menemukan kedamaian dalam setiap bacaan ayat ayat yang dilantunkan. Terlepas dari itu pandanganku tiba tiba tertuju pada sebuah pohon yang cukup lumayan besar dengan sebuah tempat duduk, aku bergegas menuju kesana, tepatnya berada di depan masjid tempatku sholat tadi hanya berjarak sekitar beberapa langkah saja. Aku menyandarkan tubuhku di bangku itu sesekali menghirup udara segar dari pohon pohon disekelilingku menikmati indahnya karunia dan ciptaanNya. Daun daun sisa tiupan angin hujan masih terlihat berserakan dibawah ku.
"Observasi cinta.....?", sebuah kata yang aku temukan tanpa sengaja di sebuah kertas kecil di bangku ini. Ya , sebuah bangku kecil tak jauh dari masjid tempatku tadi. Niat hati cuma iseng melihat kertas itu, dan akhirnya membuat rasa penasaranku juga.
"Observasi cinta ku......."
Seperti itulah kiranya kata dalam lembaran kecil kertas yang aku temukan tadi. Tulisan tangan yang rapi dan terlihat bagus ,itulah kesan pertama ku. Tapi ada yang membuat hatiku masih diambang rasa penasaranku."Tulisan siapakah ini? dan apa maksudnya?"
Aku sempat terpikir apakah ini tulisan akhi yang biasa duduk disini? atau kah hanya sebuah kertas kecil yang terbawa angin dan entah siapa yang menulisnya.
Haripun berganti, suasana ramadhan kali ini terasa berbeda, jauh dari orangtua jauh dari keluarga besar dan sahabat sahabat terdekat, dikota ini ditempat ini aku mencoba untuk mengukir suatu kenangan untuk hidupku, mencoba untuk melanjutkan studi yang sempat tertinggal.Kota yang tak terlalu besar namun cukup membuatku tak akan pernah menyesal pernah singgah dikota ini.

Hari ini seperti biasa jadwal ku padat sekali, semua deadline kerjaan kantor satu persatu sudah terselesaikan. Aku mencoba mencari kegiatan baru di sela waktuku. dan akhirnya akupun ikut acara rokhis disebuah pesantren.Awalnya sahabatku Arna yang mengajakku mengikuti acara ini,dan pikirku tak ada masalah juga untuk mengikutinya sekalian menambah ilmu agamaku yang kurasa masih terlalu kurang dari kesempurnaan.

oooOOooo

"New a message..." suara ringtone sms ku terdengar. Short message from usatdzah Aini
"assalamu'alaikum..
Mohon ma'af de'Hanna..hari ini saya sakit dan tidak bisa mengajar kelas rokhis nanti sore. Kiranya de'hanna bisa menggantikan saya. materinya tentang Adab menjaga pandangan seorang muslimah. syukron..
wassalamu'alaikum..
from : ustadzah_Aini"

Ternyata sebuah message dari ustadzah Aini yang tidak bisa hadir dalam acara rohis nanti sore.
"ini beneran? saya yang harus ngisi?" batinku setelah selesai membaca message itu.
"masyaAllah...aku belum persiapan materi sama sekali" kucoba membalas message tadi tapi urung kulakukan karena tak enak hati dengan ustadzah Aini.Dan akhirnya aku memutuskan menerima amanah itu.

Ustadzah Aini seorang wanita yang luar biasa menurut saya,Dia menjadi inspirasi dalam perjalananku memperdalam ilmu agama. Kami sudah sangat begitu akrab semenjak awal pertemuan kami 2bulan lalu.Arna yang mempertemukan kami. Banyak masalah hidupku aku curhatkan ke Umi, Panggilan khususku untuk ustadzah Aini. Beliau sudah seperti ibu ku sendiri, tepatnya ibu kedua ku disini. Beliau seorang pengasuh pondok pesantren tempat ku menimba ilmu di acara rohis. Walaupun intensitas tatap muka kami sangat jarang sekali, tapi komunikasi kami tetap berjalan. solusi solusi yang beliau berikan selalu berlandaskan agama dan saya menjadi lebih yakin menuntut ilmu kepada beliau.
oooOOooo

Dengan bermodal buku buku islami yang aku pinjam dari perpustakaan kampus, aku langsung bergegas menuju acara rohis sore itu. Tak pernah aku segugup kali ini, pengalaman agamaku yang masih dibilang belum ada apa apanya ini , sudah diamanahkan untuk mengisi acara keagamaan. Dari tadi pikiranku bercabang cabang tak tau entah kemana memikirkannya. Dan tiba tiba seorang anak kecil membuyarkan semua ke khawatiranku tadi. Dia menarik hijab lebarku dari belakang dengan lembutnya dan menengadahkan tangan mungilnya. Suasana bus sore itu terlihat sepi dengan lima orang penumpang, segera aku keluarkan lembar uang dari dompet, dan anak itupun langsung pergi dengan senyum yang mengembang.

akhirnya sampai juga ditempat acara disebuah masjid tak jauh dari tempat kost ku. sejalan dua langkah, tiga langkah aku baru tersadar dengan bawaan ku, "astaghfirullah....materi untuk acara rohisku?" aku terus mengecek isi tas ku dan tiba tiba dari arah belakang terdengar suara memanggilku, tapi aku tak begitu memperhatikannya karena masih sibuk membongkar bongkar isi tas.
''ukhty.....apakah ini yang kau cari" dia menyodorkan buku yang aku cari.
"alhamdulillah......terimakasih. aku tidak bisa lama ditempat ini, acara sudah akan mulai. terimakasih akhi" dengan tergesa gesa aku menghilang dari pandangannya. Entah siapa laki laki itu seorang malaikat yang Allah kirimkan kepadaku atau entahlah tapi aku sangat berterimakasih.

acarapun telah selesai dan itu tak seperti yang aku bayangkan semula, semua berjalan dengan lancar. dan aku mendapat pengalaman baru yang tak pernah aku lupakan.dengan langkah penuh semangat karena lega rasanya telah menyelesaikan amanah dari ustadzah aku menuju sebuah kursi. Dan aku buka lagi beberapa materi yang ada dibuku yang telah menolongku tadi, dan aku sempat teringat dengan laki laki itu. Lembar demi lembar aku coba untuk mengulang apa yang telah aku sampaikan tadi dan itu rasanya seperti bukan diriku tadi.tiba tiba aku menemukan sebuah kertas surat didalam buku ini.
"ma'af ukhty.....aku lancang menulis surat ini dibuku ukhty...namaku ilyas, buku ukhty terjatuh didalam bus tadi, alangkah baiknya jika ukhty lebih tidak teledor menaruh barang barang penting apalagi buku ini berisi tentang hadist dan ayat ayat alqur'an sebaiknya engkau jaga denagn baik., buku ini hampir terinjak oleh penumpang bis lainnya"
sebuah surat pendek yang ternyata dari laki laki yang tadi. aku sempat lupa dengannya, dan karena terburu buru akupun belum sempat memandang wajahnya, yang aku lihat hanya tubuhnya yang tinggi berpakaian rapi lengkap dengan jas almameter yang ia kenakan.
"namanya ilyas...." siapa dia aku sangat berterimakasih.
oooOOooo
Suatu hari detengah kesibukan ku mengisi sebuah seminar keagamaan dikampus tempatku menimba ilmu , aku tanpa sengaja bertemu dengan Ilyas. Laki laki yang dulu telah berjasa kepadaku. Dia yang menyapaku terlebih dahulu. Aku sempat tak mengenalinya setelah kejadian itu aku benar benar lupa karena akupun tak sempat memandangnya kala itu.
“ukhty….apa kabar?” begitu seraya dia menyapaku.
“Bukankah ukhty yang waktu itu bukunya tertinggal di bus? ….” Dengan nada yang cukup penasaran dia mencoba coba untuk mengingatkanku.
“aku Ilyas..ukhty…, buku ukhty yang tertinggal di bus kan? Kalau tidak salah judulnya itu ..hmmm..cara menjaga pandangan? benarkah”
“syukron mas Ilyas..kemarin saya belum sempat berterimakasih sama mas ilyas” Jawabku merasa bersalah juga berhutang budi kepadanya kala itu.
Berawal dari pertemuan itu aku baru tau kalau Ilyas adalah seorang mahasiswa semester akhir kala itu yang sedang menyelesaikan skripsinya. Dia mengambil jurusan hukum internasional disebuah universitas di kota ini. Walaupun dia mengambil fakultas hukum namun kepribadiannya tak lepas dari nilai nilai agama, itu yang membuatku salut, seorang laki laki yang penuh tanggung jawab terlihat jelas dari sikap dan tutur katanya. Tapi semua itu aku tepis karena pertemuanku dengan Ilyas juga bisa dibilang terlalu singkat dan tidak tau kapan kita akan bertemu lagi.
Satu minggu setelah pertemuan kami di acara seminar, aku mendapat sebuah surat , Surat yang bertuliskan namaku dipojok kanan atas, tulisan tangan yang begitu rapi dan seperti tidak asing bagiku.
“Assalamu’alaikum …d’Hanna…
Ma’afkan saya lancang menulis surat ini , sejak awal pertemuan kita , aku sangat kagum kepadamu, engkau adalah wanita yang sempurna , aku mengagumi akhlaq mu karena Allah.
Bismillahirrohmanirrohim….dengan kesungguhan hatiku ijinkan aku untuk meminangmu han, seminggu setelah surat ini aku akan membawa kedua orangtuaku menemui keluarga mu untuk menentukan tanggal akad kita.
ILYAS.

Air mataku jatuh seketika membaca surat itu, aku langsung bersujud syukur kepada sang ilahi, pertemuan yang begitu singkat dan tanpa disengaja itulah ternyata takdir cintaku yang Allah hadirkan dengan cara yang begitu indah. Dari sebuah sobekan kertas yang tak sengaja aku temukan dan ternyata tulisan itu adalah tulisan mas Ilyas, dan juga pertemuan diseminar yang kamipun tak sengaja bertemu, Allah lah yang mempertemukan kami. Semua masalah kebimbangan hatiku terjawab sudah , doa doaku disetiap sujud malamku Allah balas dengan luar biasa. Kini aku tau bahwa takdir yang Allah tuliskan itu sudah Allah rancang begitu rapi dan begitu indah untuk hambanya.
Dan akhirnya aku bisa membuktikan kepada kedua orangtuaku bahwa study dan karir ku tak menjadi penghalang jodohku, Menjadi wanita muslimah yang berpendidikan tinggi serta berkarir dan tetap memegang prinsip prinsip syariat dalam agama justru membawaku dalam dunia luar yang menuntunku untuk berubah menjadi seorang muslimah yang lebih baik, pertemuanku dengan ustadzah Aini salah satunya, yang telah membuka jendela pandangku tentang ajaran islam, banyak yang aku petik dari setiap masalahku, Kini aku bahagia dengan hidupku , membuka lembaran baru dengan suami ku mas Ilyas.