Reading

Reading is the first and the most important thing to do in learning activities. In Al-Quran, Allah has instructed men on earth to read. It was repeated three times. It means that the instruction is very important. Reading is not only reading sentences or what are written in books. It also includes reading the universe and even a very little thing around us. Everything we read will lead us to the understanding and the acceptance of the existence of Allah behind everything in the universe.

     Having a reading habit is a blessing, because not all people like reading. Even students or teachers, many of them do not like reading. For them reading is a hard activity. They prefer reading online shop or any other unimportant things. That's why the rate of reading habit in Indonesia is very low. I myself thank Allah for having reading as a hobby.

     Reading has some benefits for those who do it regularly. It can be a way to reduce stress. Those who like reading get a lot of knowledge as well as entertainment from the reading materials. It refreshes the mind and the heart. People with fresh mind and heart tend to enjoy life better. They also have better understanding on the problems they face.

     Reading can also broaden the knowledge. Those who read a lot must be different from those who don't. It influences the way they see the world. Those who like reading tend to tolerate other people's choices on anything. They are able to give other people their opinion which are different from theirs.  For them having different opinion is not a problem. They can see others' point of view.

     For good readers, books are best friends which never tell a lie. They never leave them. They are also able to keep secret, not like human. Reading can sharpen the ability to analyze everything. Good readers can analyze every problem from many sides. They can have many alternative options in solving a problem. It is because they have a lot of knowledge based on what they have read. Books give them a lot of people's experiences and opinions on many things.