By Mohd Abbas Abdul Razak, PhD
Introduction
Madihah, who was the top SPM student in 2008, reached a remarkable milestone earlier this year with the publication of two of her latest books. As a young and promising author in Malaysia, her first work was a co-authored book with Ummu Hani Abu Hassan, titled Catatan Hati Nik Nur Madihah – Kesusahan Bukan Penghalang Kejayaan, published in 2009. Her second book, Noktah Terjahit, was released in 2017, followed by her third book, Denai Cinta, in 2023.
In 2025, Madihah achieved double success when her books Perempuan Luka Kalis Kecewa and Kemelut: Konflik PerasaanSering Dilalui Pelajar hit the bookstores in April and May, respectively. To maintain a clear focus, this article serves only as a review and reflection on Perempuan Luka Kalis Kecewa. Insha Allah, once this task is completed, I will address the issues explored in Kemelut in a separate article.
The Writer’s Profile
As one of the young writers in Malaysia, Madihah hails from the state of Kelantan, located on the eastern coast of the Malaysian Peninsula. She received her primary and secondary education in Kelantan. Coming from a poor economic background was the greatest motivating factor for Madihah to excel in her education. Born to a fisherman, at one point in her journey to adulthood, she realized that doing well in education and making a name for herself could bring happiness and recognition to her hardworking parents.
Driven by her Islamic spirit and determination to succeed in life, Madihah studied diligently. All her strenuous efforts bore fruit when she became the top student in the SPM Examination of 2008. In that year, around 400,000 students took the exam. Madihah, from Maahad Muhammadi Kota Bharu, managed to score 20 As.
Upon completing her SPM, she secured a generous scholarship to pursue her studies abroad. For a short while, she studied in Jordan and later in the United Kingdom before earning her undergraduate degree in Religious Studies at the International Islamic University Malaysia.
Between the years 2014–2015, she was invited to be a columnist for Varsiti, Berita Harian, a local newspaper in Malaysia. Besides being a freelance writer, Madihah presents motivational talks at schools and shares her creative writing through her blog ‘niknurmadihah.dukkanmaya.com’. One of her greatest achievements came in March 2009, when her name was listed in the Malaysian Book of Records.
In her ambition to contribute more dynamically to the cause of Islam and humanity, Madihah enrolled in mid-2025 to pursue her postgraduate studies. She is currently undertaking her M.Phil. (Master of Philosophy) at ISTAC (International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilization), IIUM.
Highlights of Perempuan Luka Kalis Kecewa
Her book Perempuan Luka Kalis Kecewa (A Woman Wounded but Immune to Disappointment) explores the struggles women face throughout their lives. In this work, Madihah not only sheds light on the silent suffering many women endure while navigating the challenges of the modern world, but also highlights the inner strength they possess—strength they may not even realize they have.
Like many writers before her, Madihah delves into the inner world of women—a world often overlooked or misunderstood in the male-dominated society we live in today. Overall, this book centers on the key issues Madihah consistently raises in her writings on women. As a Muslim author, she places particular emphasis on the status and role of women from an Islamic perspective.
As in her previous works, Madihah draws inspiration from exemplary female figures in Islamic tradition: SayyidahKhadijah (r.a.), Sayyidah Fatimah (r.a.), Maryam (a.s.), and Asiya (r.a.). Through the lives of these great women, she believes there is a rich reservoir of lessons and stories from which modern women can draw strength and guidance.
Perempuan Luka Kalis Kecewa is a book divided into five parts. In part four, the author, Madihah, shares her personal experiences with her readers, offering insights on how one should position oneself to overcome the hurdles of life. The lessons she learned from her beloved mother are something she continues to cherish to this day. In this part, she also highlights the challenges she faced in her academic journey, particularly in her efforts to achieve good grades in school and university.
Part five, the final segment of the book, is an invitation for readers to reflect on the realities of death and the impermanence of life in this world. While we make the necessary efforts for our survival here, we should not overlook the inevitability and significance of death. As Muslims, the wise approach is to strive for success in this life while also preparing—both mentally and spiritually—for our eventual return to Allah SWT.
In reflecting on many of the things I have read in this book by Madihah, as a man, I must humbly agree with what she has highlighted regarding the immense sacrifices women make in their lives. Personally, for a long time, I have felt that I may never fully understand women, but I have developed a deep sense of empathy towards them, especially working mothers who must balance the demands of a career with the responsibilities of caring for their families. Juggling both work and family is no easy task. The level of stress and energy required to manage these dual responsibilities is something that cannot be fully grasped by an outsider—it is best understood by the one who experiences it.
Any man with a wife should never assume that everything is fine just because she appears composed while working in the kitchen. That assumption is often misguided. Even in her silence as she prepares meals for the family, there may be thoughts and emotions weighing heavily on her mind. A careless word or insensitive joke from a husband—or anyone in the household—can easily stir emotions that have been quietly simmering within her heart.
Even Sigmund Freud (1856-1939), the father of psychoanalysis, once admitted that despite decades of studying the human psyche, he still could not answer the question: “What does a woman want?” Women live in a world uniquely their own—a world that men may never truly comprehend. In contrast, the world of a man often appears more straightforward and predictable. Many women, however, can understand the nature, habits, and thoughts of their husbands far more deeply than men understand their wives.
My Reflection on the Book
In my personal opinion, this book is a worthwhile read for anyone interested in understanding the strength, sacrifices, and contributions of women to the home, society, and nation. Viewing things from the writer’s perspective is important. As a woman herself, the author is in a strong position to speak on behalf of other women in society.
Compared to previous centuries, men in this era of science, technology, social media, and the internet are better informed about the issues surrounding the female gender. Within the global context, the Muslim Ummah stands out as being well-informed—especially from a religious perspective—about how women should be treated, whether in the household, the workplace, or public spaces.
The Qur’an and Hadith clearly protect the rights and dignity of women. It is only those men who are ignorant of the esteemed position of women and mothers in Islam who tend to treat them unjustly. Their shortcomings should be blamed on their lack of understanding, not on the religion or the Prophet of Islam.
(The views expressed are those of Dr. Mohd Abbas Abdul Razak from the Department of Fundamental and Interdisciplinary Studies, AHAS KIRKHS, IIUM, and do not necessarily represent the views of Potret Online.)
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