Abou Ben Adhem Context and Summary

Abou Ben Adhem: Context and Summary

Context

Leigh Hunt was born in Middlesex, England. He was an essayist, critic, journalist and poet. Hunt was a close friend of several writers and poets of the Romantic Period of English Literature including John Keats and Percy Bysshe Shelley.

His collection of poems Juvinilia, published when he was just a teenager, was well-received. Other popular works of his include The Story of Rimini and Lord Byron and Some of His Contemporaries. Hunt also edited several influential journals of the time.

Abou Ben Adhem is one of Hunt's most well-known poems. Like many other poems of the Romantic Period, it reveals the West's fascination for the East. The poem is based on Ibrahim ibn Adham, a revered Sufi saint. He had been a king of Balkh (a region in Afghanistan) and had renounced all worldly riches and chosen a life of abstinence. Hunt's poem narrates a short but enlightening conversation between Abou Ben Adhem and an angel. The poem clearly highlights that service to humanity is service to God.

Summary

Here is a summary of the poem Abou Ben Adhem by Leigh Hunt.

The poem begins with the poet calling a blessing upon Abou Ben Adhem. He wishes that there be more people like Abou Ben Adhem in the world. The poet then goes on to narrate an incident involving Abou Ben Adhem.

One night, Abou Ben Adhem awoke from a deep, peaceful sleep to find his room flooded with moonlight and looking as exquisite as a blooming lily. The sight was made more beautiful by the presence of an angel who was writing in a golden book. Ben Adhem, a pious and righteous man, was not afraid of the vision. He did not hesitate to ask the angel what it was writing.

The angel explained in a gentle and loving. tone that he was writing the names of those who loved the Lord. Ben Adhem eagerly asked it if his name was also on the list. The angel replied kindly that this was not so. Ben Adhem was distressed but he spoke cheerfully and requested the angel to write down his name as one who loved his fellow beings. The angel complied with this request and vanished.

The next night, the angel reappeared and cast bright light in Ben Adhem's room. It displayed a list of people whom God had blessed with his love. To Ben Adhem's great astonishment and delight, his name was on the top of the list. His love for his fellow beings was much more pleasing to God than mere prayer and worship.

Abou Ben Adhem by Leigh Hunt:-

1. Question and Answers RTCs: http://abou-ben-adhem-question-and-answers

2. Context and Summary: http://abou-ben-adhem-context-and-summary

3. Figures of Speech: http://abou-ben-adhem-figures-of-speech

4. Themes, Literary Style, Form and Structure: http://abou-ben-adhem-themes-literary-style

5. Character Analysis: http://abou-ben-adhem-character-analysis