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Abou Ben Adheim
Abou Ben Adheim
English Literature
X555
5
Reference 1
1. Who was Abou Ben Adhem? What is meant by ‘may his tribe increase’?
Abou Ben Adhem was also known as Ibrahim ibn Adham or Ibrahim Balkhi. He
was born in the year 718 CE and died in the year 782 CE in Balkh (modern day
Afghanistan). He is one of the most prominent figures of the early ascetic Sufi
saints. He was a prince who renounced his royal life and chose asceticism.
The phrase “may his tribe increase” means that there should be more people like
Abou Ben Adhem in this world or may his descendants thrive in this world. The
narrator admires and respects Abou Ben Adhem.
4. What does Abou Ben Adhem encounter upon awakening? Give the
significance of the book of gold.
When Abou wakes up, he finds his room brightened with moonlight and an angel
writing something in “a book of gold”.
The “book of gold” is significant as it adds to the magical and supernatural quality
of the poem. Moreover, gold could also be a symbol purity of the subject matter
of the book. It was a divine encounter.
1. What is referred to as the presence in the above extract? What does Abou
say to ‘the presence’?
The presence in the above extract is referred to the angel who woke Abou from
his “deep dream of peace”.
Abou asked the presence in his room, what was it writing.
2. What is ‘the vision’ referred to here? Why does it raise its head?
The vision here refers to the angel, or could be Abou’s supernatural vision.
The vision raises its head to answer Abou’s query about what it was writing in
the book of gold.
3. What does the angel tell Abou Ben Adhem in the above extract?
The angel tells Abou that it is writing in the book the names of all those who love
the Lord.
4. What does Abou curiously ask the angel? What makes Abou low?
Abou curiously asks the angel if his name was written among those who love the
Lord.
When the angel replied in negative, it made Abou spoke more low, which means
that in a humble tone yet cheerly he requested the angel to write his name as one
that loves his fellowmen.
Grade 10_English_Poem_Abou Ben Adhem Page 3
5. Does Abou feel disheartened at the angel’s reply? Which words tells you so?
What does Abou request the angel to do?
No, he doesn’t; and even if he felt disheartened, it was momentary.
The words “cheerly” tells us this.
Abou cheerfully requests the angel to write his name as the one who loves his
fellow men.
Reference 3
1. What did the angel write? Describe what happened the night after the angel
vanished?
The angel might have respected Abou’s request and must have written Abou’s
name as one who loves his fellow men.
The next night, the angel came again with a great amount of light and woke Abou.
The angel showed him the names of those who had been blessed by God. Abou
Ben Adhem saw that his name appeared on the top of the list ahead of others.
5. What did the angel show Abou? How can you look at the extract as the
climax in the poem?
The angel showed Abou the names of those people whom love of God has blest.
The last four lines of the poem can be seen as the climax. The angel writes that
Abou loves his fellowmen. And vanishes. To everybody’s and to also Abou’s
surprise, the angel appears again the next night and with a new set of names of
people who have been blessed by God. The word ‘lo’ adds to the climax. The
6. On the basis of the above extract, bring out the main theme of the poem.
The poem, Abo Ben Adhem, depicts that true devotion to God is found in love
for one’s neighbour. It is only when you love your fellowmen, you become
worthy to be loved by God. The poem is a celebration of humanistic ideals. Abou
Ben Adhem, a simple soul, on realizing that his name is not in the list of people
who love God, says to the angel that he loves his fellowmen. The twist takes place
the next night when the angel returns with another list having names of those who
have been blessed by the love of God. Surprisingly, in the list, Ben Adhem’s
name appears at the top ahead of others. The poem thus brings out the message
that love for one’s fellowmen matters greatly; those who love their fellowmen,
love God.