Habiburrahman El Shirazy

Habiburrahman El Shirazy, popularly known as Kang Abik, is an Indonesian author and da'i. Having attended Islamic schools from childhood, he studied hadiths at Al-Azhar University in Cairo, Egypt, where he became involved with the Indonesian literary community Forum Lingkar Pena. Returning to Indonesia in 2002, El Shirazy was injured in a motorcycle accident the following year. While recuperating, he wrote his debut novel Ayat-Ayat Cinta, a commercial success that was soon adapted to film. While continuing to write fiction, El Shirazy used the proceeds from the novel to expand his dakwah (proselytization) activities. Several of El Shirazy's novels have been adapted to film, with Dalam Mihrab Cinta being directed by the author.