Jurnal Melayu Bil 14 (1) 2015 ISSN 1675-7513 92 FENOMENA NOVEL POPULAR ISLAM DI MALAYSIA DAN INDONESIA: BACAAN KHUSUS TERHADAP NOVEL AYAT-AYAT CINTA DAN SALJU SAKINAH KOH YOUNG HUN Hankuk University of Foreign Studies yhkoh@hufs.ac.kr UMMI HANI ABU HASSAN Hankuk University of Foreign Studies ummihani.abuhassan@yahoo.com.my ABSTRAK Artikel ini meneruskan perbincangan tentang novel popular Islam yang menjadi fenomena di Malaysia dan Indonesia sekitar awal tahun 2003 sehingga kini. Kecenderungan para penulis yang berlatar-belakangkan sastera Islam serius dan kemudiannya menghasilkan sastera Islam popular dilihat sesuatu yang ironis. Jika novel Islam serius menuntut penulis memaknakan falsafah dan pemikiran dalam karyanya, novel popular Islam pula dianggap ‘mengikut selera semasa’. Cirinya yang lain terdapat pada judul, ilustrasi dan kulit buku, tema serta latar-belakang penerbit. Kajian ini memfokuskan novel Salju Sakinah (2011) oleh Zaid Akhtar dan Ayat-Ayat Cinta (2006) oleh Habiburrahman El-Shirazy. Kajian mendapati bahawa dua penulis ini menjadikan ciri popular sebagai strategi untuk menyampaikan agama Islam dengan lebih berkesan. Walau bagaimanapun, Zaid Akhtar memfokuskan penyampaian dakwah kepada Muslim di Malaysia dan Habiburrahman El-Shirazy mengutarakan hubungan harmoni antara Muslim dengan Kristian yang lebih global. Kata kunci: novel popular Islam; Salju Sakinah; Ayat-Ayat Cinta; strategi dakwah; pemikiran THE PHENOMENON OF ISLAMIC POPULAR NOVEL IN MALAYSIA AND INDONESIA: READING HABIBURRAHMAN EL-SHIRAZY’S AYAT- AYAT CINTA AND ZAID AKHTAR’S SALJU SAKINAH ABSTRACT This article attempt to continue the discussion about the Islamic popular novel which has a phenomenon in Malaysia and Indonesia early 2003 until now. The tendency of author who has the background from the serious Islamic literature and then producing the Islamic popular literature seem ironic. If the serious Islamic novel requires the author to use the philosophy and thought in his literary work, the popular Islamic novel is more in accordance with current tastes. Other characteristics found in the title, illustrations, novel covers, themes and the backgrounds of publisher. This article focused Salju Sakinah (2011) by Zaid Akhtar and Ayat-Ayat Cinta (2006) by Habiburrahman El-Shirazy. The study found that the two of authors make the popular as their strategies to present Islam more effectively. However, Zaid Akhtar focused the Islamic national issues in Malaysia and Habiburrahman El-Shirazy portray the global relations between Muslims and Christians.