Halimah Munawir’s Poetry Collection “The Majesty of the Holy City” Launched in Cairo, Egypt
JAKARTA-JAYA NEWS.COM – The poetry collection “The Majesty of the Holy City” by Indonesian poet and writer Halimah Munawir was born not merely as a work of literature, but as a gift of self-appreciation at the age of 62.
“This is a manifestation of gratitude and celebration of a long life journey. A confession of self-love, amidst the current hustle and bustle of the world,” Halimah Munawir told reporters in Jakarta (Sunday, February 1, 2026) after the launch of her poetry book, “The Majesty of the Holy City,” which took place last Thursday (January 29, 2026) at approximately 12:00 p.m. local time at the Wisma Nusantara Library of the Indonesian Students of Cairo (PMIK) in Egypt.
“As a nation, the launch in Cairo also strengthens the harmony between the Indonesian and Egyptian governments, which has existed since the time of the first president, Sukarno. Because in my opinion, diplomacy can be conducted not only through politics, but also through culture and literature,” he added.
At the launch of the poetry collection entitled “The Majesty of the Holy City” (Keagungan Kota Suci), published by the Egyptian publisher Dar El Sholeh and containing 45 poems in four languages: Sundanese, Indonesian, English, and Arabic, Abdul Muta’ali MA, MIP, PhD, speaker Dr. (HC) Halimah Munawir (as author-ed), and A. Satriawan Hariaadi Lc, MA, also delivered welcoming remarks.
This collection of poetry is also a meeting between holy verses and the dust of life’s streets. The authors do not escape reality but respond to human reality using the Compass of the Quran.
The result is poetry that is not only aesthetically beautiful but also incisive as social criticism and reflection.
A Self-Appreciation
On this occasion, Halimah Munawir, Chairwoman of Obor Sastra Indonesia, shared her journey from 1995 to 2025. She described the 1995 Hajj pilgrimage (the beginning of a gathering of inner feelings and experiences), and the Umrah period as a continuing journey (a series of journeys that enriched perspectives).
November 2025 marked a turning point (the moment during the Umrah, the birth of the idea for a book).
This led to the launch of the poetry collection “The Majesty of the Holy City” as a self-appreciation gift.
The book review of “The Majesty of the Holy City” also delved into religious poetry, intertwining the Quran and social empiricism, a self-appreciation of Halimah Munawir’s life.
The creative upstream between heaven and earth is: 1) Heaven (Theological Compass), where the Qur’an serves as the source of ‘heavenly language’ and an undeniable guide; 2) Earth (Social Empiricism), a sharp observation of reality and the surrounding environment; 3) Insight, this work is responsive, refusing to become ‘still water’ that sweeps away; these poems are a reflection of the soul’s anxiety.
Meanwhile, the life principles that inspire the breath of poetry are five: safeguarding oneself over five matters, and six: convincing the heart over six matters.
These principles are not only held firmly in life but are woven into every line of poetry in his books.
Mecca and Medina are more than just destinations. For the author, the holy cities are not merely physical locations with an aura of globally recognized greatness. They are reflections of the soul, where personal, profound, and transformative glorification occurs.
Social transformation, how interactions in the holy land change the author’s perspective on everyday social life.
Every breath is precious, and the philosophy of time is like the wind, passing without ever turning back. This awareness gives rise to the urgency to create.
Meanwhile, the trilogy of inner journeys consists of: first, the nadir of the initial search and the depth of the soul’s sense of evolution.
Second, the shadow of paradise, a projection of a life of serenity, and third, the majesty of the holy city, the pinnacle of reflection on the spiritual journey.
“The poetry collection ‘The Majesty of the Holy City’ stands as proof that time has not passed in vain. Every precious breath has been recorded, felt, and immortalized,” he said.
Raising Spiritual Themes
Previously, Halimah Munawir explained that the poetry collection “The Majesty of the Holy City” was published by Dar El Sholeh publishing house. They were attracted to this book because of its consistent approach to spiritual themes grounded in personal experience and local wisdom.
The manuscript received a positive response from the first submission.
She further explained that the poetry collection was born from her spiritual experience while performing the Umrah pilgrimage in November 2025.
“The inspiration came so strongly, like an inner compulsion to write about the majesty of the Holy Land. The number 45 poems wasn’t planned from the start. I initially only targeted 30. However, the ongoing creative process led to an increase in the number of poems,” she said.
According to Halimah Munawir, the number 45 has symbolic meaning associated with the interpretations of charismatic scholars. Grandpa Moen.
“The poems of 45 also relate to Surah Al-Jatsiyah in the Quran, which speaks of the signs of God’s greatness in the universe and humanity, as well as the commemoration of the Day of Resurrection. These poems reflect the relationship between God and fellow human beings,” he concluded. (***)
Contributor: Lasman Simanjuntak
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