Poetry · Chapter
Abu Midjan explained
Abu Midjan, a warrior and wine-lover, is imprisoned by his chief Saad for drinking wine against the Prophet's command.
What happens
Abu Midjan, a warrior and wine-lover, is imprisoned by his chief Saad for drinking wine against the Prophet's command. While in chains, he sings praises of wine and battle. When a battle erupts, Saad's wife frees him to fight. He proves instrumental in the victory, riding Saad's horse and wearing his armor. After the battle, he returns to his chains. Saad, realizing the mysterious warrior was Abu Midjan, forgives him and releases him. Abu Midjan then vows to drink no more.
Themes in this chapter
Redemption and Grace
Abu Midjan is forgiven by Saad and given a chance to reform, culminating in his vow to abstain from wine.
Suffering and Purification
Abu Midjan's imprisonment and chains serve as a form of purification, leading to his eventual renunciation of wine.
Love as Ultimate Strength
The lady's compassion and understanding free Abu Midjan to fight, demonstrating love's power to enable heroic action.
Characters to notice
- Abu Midjan
The protagonist, a warrior and poet who loves wine and battle, imprisoned for drinking, then freed to fight, ultimately renouncing wine.
- Saad
Abu Midjan's chief who imprisons him for drinking but later forgives him after recognizing his valor in battle.
- Dear Martha
Saad's wife who frees Abu Midjan to fight and later reveals his identity to Saad.
- Allah
Invoked by Abu Midjan and others as the supreme authority and judge.
- The Prophet
Mentioned as having forbidden wine; Abu Midjan questions and later submits to his decree.
Key passages
“If I sit in the dust For lauding good wine, Ha, ha! it is just: So sits the vine!”
If I am humbled for praising wine, it's only fitting, just as the vine itself grows low.
Abu Midjan justifies his punishment by comparing himself to the vine, which is lowly yet fruitful.
“I will not think That the Prophet said 'Ye shall not drink Of the flowing red!'”
I refuse to believe the Prophet truly forbade drinking red wine.
Abu Midjan expresses doubt about the prohibition, later recanted.
“Can an evil thing Make beauty more? Or a sinner bring To the heavenly door?”
How can something evil create beauty or lead a sinner to paradise?
Abu Midjan argues that wine, which inspires beauty and spiritual vision, cannot be evil.
“Oh, the wine of the grape is a feeble ghost! The wine of the fight is the joy of a host!”
Wine from grapes is weak compared to the exhilaration of battle.
Abu Midjan elevates the thrill of combat above the pleasure of drinking.
“If thou give me to God and his decrees, Nor purge my sin with the shame of these, Wrath against me I dare not store: In the name of Allah, I drink no more!”
If you leave my judgment to God and don't punish me with these chains, I will not hold a grudge; I swear by Allah I will stop drinking.
Abu Midjan vows to renounce wine in exchange for forgiveness and freedom.