Abu Nuwas’s Last Poem

Review by Ruhama Bekele

The short:

A short poem written by the legendary gay Arab poet, Abu Nuwas, during the era of Classical Islam.

The long:

Following themes of repentance and redemption, Abu Nuwas writes about his devotion to Allah despite the sins he’s accumulated throughout his life. To contextualize the beauty of this poem, the reader must understand the character of Abu Nuwas. During his time (and even now), Abu Nuwas was a famous poet celebrated for his collection of poems called khamriyyat, or wine poems named after his love for wine. His poems offered a glimpse into the hedonistic and sinful lifestyle of high society, reflecting his own life as a heavy drinker and openly homosexual sexuality, aspects for which he continues to be judged by Muslims. In his final poem, however, Abu Nuwas writes to Allah and begs Him for forgiveness as the opening lines read, “O Allah, if my sins become abundant, Then indeed I know Your Forgiveness is greater than my sins”.

To read or not to read:

In seeking forgiveness, Abu Nuwas opens up about his complicated relationship with his mortality as he compares himself to a criminal. As such, the poem may provide insight into the general attitudes of Islamic society towards perceived character flaws like his love for wine and men.