Faisal Tehrani

Education

Mohd Faizal Musa was born on August 7, 1974 in Kuala Lumpur before moving to Malacca at the age of 5. He started school at Sacred Heart School of Malacca, then at Primary School Jalan Dato Palembang. Faisal continued his studies at Sekolah Menengah Sultan Muhammad until the age of 15, managing to get excellent Lower Certificate of Education results , after which he continued his studies at the Klang Islamic College (now the Sultan Alam Shah Islamic College). Faisal often honed his skills by supplementary writing of his teenage experiences in a teenage magazine.

Writing career

Faisal began his writing career with Cinta Hari-hari Rusuhan published by Creative Enterprise and Perempuan Politikus Melayu by Penerbitan Pemuda, both published in 2000. Both of his works lead to his nomination in the 2000-2001 Hadiah Sastera Perdana Malaysia. There was also Maaf Dari Sorga, which only managed to be published in 2003 by Zebra Publications.

In 2002 he released 1515, an alternative historical fiction that takes on the Portuguese conquest of Malacca with victory siding instead to the Malacca Sultanate. It won first place in the 2002 Utusan Malaysia-Exxon Mobil Literature Prize plus the 2005 National Book Award in the General Malay Fiction category. The book is also used as a reading text for Malay studies at the University of Cologne in Germany. The book was eventually translated in 2011 by the National Translation Institute of Malaysia (Institut Terjemahan Buku Malaysia, or ITBM).

Rahsia Ummi published by Zebra Publications, 2003. In the meantime there are also used to find the Tunggu Teduh Dulu serialized in the room of Utusan Malaysia and expired in December 2003. The novel was published by Penerbitan Se-lain (2004) and Ameen Publishing (2008). Another of his famous novel is 1511H Kombat by Utusan Publications and Distributors (2004). It won first place in the 2003 Utusan Malaysia-Exxon Mobil Literature Prize in 2003; and Advencer Si Peniup Ney by Utusan Publications and Distributors (2004). It won first place Hadiah Sastera Utusan Malaysia-Exxon Mobil in 2004.

He wrote the young adult novel Detektif Indigo in 2004, published by Utusan Publications and Distributors. It won second place Hadiah Sastera Utusan Malaysia-Exxon Mobil in 2004. In the meantime, he began composing the historical novel Surat-surat Perempuan Johor, which was released by Yayasan Warisan Johor in the following year. He won the Sayembara Novel Sejarah dan Tradisi Johor 1. The popularity of Detektif Jingga lead to a sequel titled Ikan Fugu, Lukisan & Jimson in 2007.

In 2007, Faisal Tehrani wrote Bedar Sukma Bisu, published by Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka. It won the Sayembara Jubli Emas DBP general novel category. Bedar Sukma Bisu also won the Hadiah Sastera Perdana Malaysia 2006/2007. The work was translated into English under the title of The Prau with the Silent Soul in 2009 by Zawiyah Baba.

Manikam Kalbu by Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (2007). It won the Sayembara Jubli Emas DBP teens novel category. , Manikam Kalbu was awarded the winner for the Teen Fiction Book of the Year category in the National Book Award at a ceremony held by the Ministry of Education and the National Book Council on 22 December 2009. Also won the Manikam Kalbu, Hadiah Sastera Perdana Malaysia 2006/2007.

Faisal continued the prolific producing Tuhan Manusia by Ameen Publishing (2007). Independent writer and director Amir Muhammad calls it "a provocative and surprising work. It is thematically conservative, but why should conservatives not be allowed to be provocative?" Faisal however disowned the work and Tunggu Teduh Dulu during a panel meeting at the Singapore Writers Festival 2015, saying it was just 'water under the bridge'. Mohd Faizal also refused to be associated with the movement of Islamic literature to the next phase of her writing, by asserting Islamic literature has distanced the audience and failed to achieve the purpose of humanity. Faisal, however, has yet to write anything critical essay about his points he is. He continued writing children's literature with Nama Beta Sultan Alauddin (2007) published Aberdeen World.

In 2008, he released a continuation of the Detektif Indigo series, Detektif Indigo Kembali published by Ameen Publishing. It was followed by Ketupat Cinta, originally published in Harian Metro from 13 January to 5 August of the same year and reissued by Ameen Publishing as Ketupat Cinta Musim Pertama in 2009 followed by Ketupat Cinta Musim Kedua Penggal Pertama in 2012.

Then, another historical novel authored the issue Saasatul Ibaad Aberdeen World (2008) and a novel Bahlut about the origin issue Ameen Publishing (2010). In 2011, Faisal Tehrani produce novel Sebongkah Batu di Kuala Berang with PTS Litera.

In 2012, he released Perempuan Nan Bercinta published with the Institut Terjemahan Buku Malaysia (ITBM), which had caused repercussions by the government. He was later banned by the government of Malaysia in 2014. Undeterred by government pressure, he published the novel Bagaimana Anyss Naik Ke Langit with independent publisher DuBook Press that tells of the fate of an academic-activist who fights for the rights of the Penan people. Faisal also wrote a poem titled Di Tembok Berlin on the same year,which was dedicated to Chris Gueffroy, the last victim of the Berlin Wall who was killed on 5 February 1989. The poem was translated into German as An der Berliner Mauer by Hedy Holzwarth, Holger Warnke, and Volker Wolf in the Kuala Lumpur-Berlin anthology released by ITBM.

In the field of drama, Faisal Tehrani is work; Rintih Chicago (winning the Hadiah Sastera Perdana Malaysia 1996/97). Angin Madinah (Hadiah Sastera Berunsur Islam organized by Yayasan Pelajaran Islam Malaysia-DBP and won the Hadiah Sastera Perdana Malaysia 2000-2001). MISI (1999-2000) was sponsored by Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka to carry around Malaysia, it was staged in Kota Kinabalu, Kuching and Penang. TiVi is an adaptation of a novella national laureate Shannon Ahmad and directed himself in 2003 and funded under the program by the Teater Kecil of the Sastera Kebangsaan Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka.

Karbala (2008) published by Aberdeen World. 2 Jam Sebelum Sultan Alauddin Syahid Diracun staged on August 25 to 29, 2008 in the Auditorium Akademi Pengajian Islam UM and characterized by Pentas magazine Volume 3 Number 4 issue of the Palace of Culture as a 'staging the monumental'. On 13–16 August 2009 at Wisma ITNM (Institut Terjemahan Negara Malaysia), Faisal Tehrani back to lead a religious theater show Kopitiam Ghadir. It featured songs nasyid group singing 'Peace Culture Revolution'. Kopitiam Ghadir repeated the play on 1 to 4 July 2010. The drama Derik Kerisek published by Ameen Serve in 2011.

Faisal also released a collection of short stories published by Sasbadi titled Sehari Dalam Perang (1997). Also mini collection of short stories published Sasbadi under the title Safari Gilgit (1997), a collection of short stories with Azman Husin in 2000, a collection of short stories ‘Lagi-Lagi Underground’ with Sharil Hasril Sanin 2002. Short story collection Perempuan Anggerik published DBP in 2002, this collection of short stories shortlisted for Hadiah Sastera Perdana Malaysia 2002/2003, kumpulan Cerpen Kekasih Sam Po Bo issue Aberdeen World (2006). In 2010 he published a collection of short stories Tiga Kali Seminggu.

In the field of poetry Faisal Tehrani came with his first collection of poetry, namely Ingin Jadi Nasrallah in 2010. It is published by Ameen Publishing. National Laureate Datuk Anwar Ridwan described Ingin Jadi Nasrallah as "a publication that highlights his talent as a poet. Some of his poems have thought deeply reinforced with imagery, metaphor, and diction effective."

He also writes creative writing handbook with the title Karya Nan Indah (Ameen Publishing, 2007).

Adaptations of his works

A stage adaption of Monsopiad dan lain-lain Cerita was held from 5 to 7 December 2003 at the Esplanade in Singapore, funded by the National Art Council of Singapore. The play was nominated at the Cameronian Awards Award 2003 for the category of best French drama script.

In 2011, members of the Kuala Lumpur City Hall Cultural Artists collective staged a play adaptation of his novel Nama Beta Sultan Alauddin in conjunction with the Kuala Lumpur Festival on the same year.

Beginning in 2012, TV2 had released a television adaptation of Pelangi Ada Tujuh Warna, which tells a female entrepreneur trapped in misyar often practiced by adherents of the Wahhabi ideology. The television directed by Bade and produced by actress Erma Fatima for. It is played by Ahmad Tarmimi Siregar and Lydiawati

Academic writing

In academia, Faisal known in the three disciplines of Comparative Literature, Syiahisme, and the field of Human Rights. Among his academic writings which had reference is The Malaysian Shi'a: A Preliminary Study of Their History, Oppression, and Denied Rights (2013), Axiology of Pilgrimage: Malaysian Shi'ites Ziyarat in Iran and Iraq (2013), Javanese Sufism and Prophetic Literature (2011), Pengantar Hak Asasi Manusia Moden dan Hujah Sangkalan Ia Bertentangan Dengan Islam (2015), Human Rights Lesson from Selected Malay Proverbs (2016) and Religious Freedom in Malaysia: The Reading of Qur’an 2:256 (2016) which is contained in the The Qur’an in the Malay-Indonesian World under series Routledge Studies in the Qur’an. His expertise in academia is assessed by reference to the international standards.

There are also a book Sinema Spiritual: Dramaturgi dan Kritikan (published Unit Buku Harakah) and Wacana Sastera Islam di Malaysia dan Indonesia (published UPM) was published in 2012.

Mohd Faizal is a graduate of Bachelor of Syariah-Politics of the University of Malaya (1998), a Master of Arts from Universiti Sains Malaysia (2000), Doctor of Philosophy from the National University of Malaysia (2010). He now works at the National University of Malaysia. As a Research Fellow at the Institute of Malay World and Civilisation, his research is on the Shiite minority in the Malay world. His research is registered with the Centre for Research and Innovation Management (CRIM) of SMEs with code GGPM-2011-062. His expertise is recognized by Front Line Defenders (FLD), a body with a special status in the United Nations Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. FLD is led by a council consisting of Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Mr Robert Badinter, Dr Hanan Ashrawi, Bono, India Lourdes Mayor, Mr. Adolfo Perez Esquivel, and His Holiness the Dalai Lama. He is also a fellow of the World Public Forum: Rhodes Forum which comprises a large scholar from around the world. This body is a membership body that promotes dialogue among civilizations. Other members of Malaysia's Dr Chandra Muzaffar and Professor Dr Syed Farid Alatas. Next in 2013, Dr Mohd Faizal Musa received a research grant to study FRGS Phase 2/2013 on human rights contained in Malay literature. Code of his research is FRGS / 2/2013 / S03 / SME / 03/2.

Translation work

Four of his short stories can also be read in English the Perempuan Anggerik translated as The Orchid Lady (2000), translation Associate Professor Dr Noraini Md Yusof. It is published in Malay Literature 13 (1): 65-75. Madame short stories translated Cikgu Tomok by Kadir Ahmad for A Teacher for Tomok and published in Malay Literature 22 (1): 65-70. Cik Siti Mustika (2009), translated by National Laureate Professor Dr Muhammad Haji Salleh with the title Miss Siti Mustika and published in the anthology of short stories ITBM Sea of Rainbows. Seorang Muslim, Seorang Lutheran origin published by Malaysiakini dated January 27, 2014. Translation A Muslim, A Lutheran done by Yana Rizal.

'Bagaimana Anyss Naik ke Langit' translated into English as How Anyss Went to Heaven (2016), and published by DuBook Press.

1515' translated into French by Monique Zaini-Lajoubert, published by Les Indes Savantes in Paris (2016).

Controversies

In 2008, Mufti of Perlis Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin had written a letter to the chief editor of Harian Metro plus its copies to the Department of Islamic Development (JAKIM) and the Home Affiars Ministry alleging Faisal of spreading the teachings of Shia Islam –a very taboo topic on part of the Malaysian government– through one of the chapters published in the Ketupat Cinta series; which was further supported by JAKIM’s Assistant Director for the Section of Faith Mohd Aizam Mas’od. Faisal however denies such allegations and affirmed that he did not belong to this group, though he had stated his openness to the various schools of thought that have evolved in Islamic tradition; citing precedents like Syed Muhammad Naquib al-Attas and Burhanuddin al-Helmy with their efforts of reconciling syncretic Sunni and Shia traditions as a way of bridging understanding between both groups.

He has also faced several death threats made against him, in which he documents them on his Twitter account.