The Challenges Of Modernity And Religious Values In Muslim Women Characters In The Novels Merindu Cahaya De Amstel By Arumi Ekowati And 172 Days By Nadzira Shafa

Abstract

Women's issues have been a compelling theme in literary works, especially when connected to the challenges of modernity and religious values. This study analyzes Muslim female characters in two novels, Merindu Cahaya De Amstel by Arumi Ekowati and 172 Days by Nadzira Shafa , both of which portray distinct yet similarly rooted stuggles within contemporary life. The aim of this research is to identify the forms of modernity challenges faced by the female Muslim characters in the two novels and to describe the religious values reflected through their experience. This study employs a qualitative descriptive method with reading and note-taking techniques to collect relevant data. The findings reveal that the religious values depicted in both novels encompass four essential relationships: the relationship between humans and God, between humans and others, with oneself, and with the surrounding environment. The modernity challenges in 172 Days include early marriage preparation, adaptation to domestic life, and coping with the loss of aspouse . Meanwhile, Missing Cahya De Amstel highlights the influence of western culture and technological development, which shapes attitudes toward women's clothing and leads to issues such as objectification and harassment. Both novels illustrate efforts of Muslim women to uphold religious values amid the pressures of modern change.