Abou Ben Adhem
This poem shows how Abou was able to win the love of God through the love of his fellowmen. Love of man is the true love of
God. It is the best way to please God and win His love. If we love our fellow human beings, God will love us. Read this poem and you will know.
Abou Ben Adhem (may his tribe increase!)
Awoke one night from a deep dream of peace,
And saw, within the moonlight in his room,
Making it rich, and like a lily in bloom,
An angel writing in a book of gold:
Exceeding peace had made Ben Adhem bold,
And to the Presence in the room he said,
“What writest thou?” – The vision rais’d its head,
And with a look made of all sweet accord,
Answer’d, “The names of those who love the Lord.”
“And is mine one?” said Abou. “Nay, not so,”
Replied the angel. Abou spoke more low,
But cheerly still; and said, “I pray thee, then,
Write me as one that loves his fellow men.”
The angel wrote, and vanish’d. The next night
It came again with a great wakening light,
And show’d the names whom love of God had blest,
And lo! Ben Adhem’s name led all the rest.
– Leigh Hunt
New Words / Phrases and their Use
1. increase (become greater in amount or number) – The price of oil has been increased.
2. exceeding (to be greater in amount or number) – Your expenditure is exceeding your income.
3. presence (a person or spirit that you cannot see but that you feel is near) – She felt a presence behind her.
4. vanished (disappeared) – All fear has vanished from my life since I believe in God.
5. vision (a picture in your imagination) – The idea came to her in a vision.
Comprehension and Appreciation of the Poem
I. Tick (✓) the correct answer(s):
This poem conveys the idea that....
1. God helps those who help themselves.
2. Love of man is the love of God.
3. God blesses those who love fellow human beings.
4. God appears in our dreams.
5. With God all things are possible.
6. Fear the man who fears not God.
7. Man proposes, and God disposes.
II. Answer each queation briefly:
1. The poet prays: ‘May his tribe increase!’ Why does the poet make this prayer?
Ans. Abou was one of those noble-mined persons who loved their fellowmen and served the cause of humanity. So the poet prays to God to increase the number of such people for the welfare of humanity.
2. What did Abou see when he woke up from his dream?
Ans. When Abou suddenly woke up, he saw an angel in his room who was writing something in a book of gold.
3. What had made Abou bold?
Ans. The peaceful atmosphere of the room had made Abou bold.
4. What did Abou ask the angel?
Ans. Abou asked the angel what he was writing.
5. What was the angel’s reply?
Ans. The angel replied Abou that he was writing the names of those person who loved God.
6. What did Abou request the angel to do?
Ans. Abou requested the angel to put his name in the list of those who loved their fellow men.
7. What did the angel do before vanishing?
Ans. The angel wrote something before vanishing.
8. What did the angel show Abou the next night?
Ans. The next night the angel showed Abou the names of those whom God loved and blessed. Abou’s name was at the top.
Vocabulary Enrichment
I. Use each pair of words in sentences of your own so as to bring out the difference in their meanings:
1. peace: We want to live in peace
piece: Give me a piece of chalk.
2. angel: Abou was an angel in his dream.
Angle: Draw an angel of 90 degree.
3. write: The students write in their notebooks.
right: My right hand is injured.
4. pray: Pray to God daily.
prey: Lion is beast of Prey.
5. made: This chair is made of plastic.
maid: She works as a maid servant.
II. Instead of saying ‘light of the moon’, we can say ‘moonlight’ which is a compound word. Give one compound word:
1. the time of night – night-time
2. work for home – home-work
3. cloth for a table – table-cloth
4. leader of the class – class-leader
5. brush for the teeth – tooth-brush
6. the pot for flowers – flower-pot
Grammar in Use
Below is given a summary of the poem, but it has not been edited. There is one mistake in each line. Underline the mistake and write the correct word on the given space:
It was a moonlit night. Abou Ben Adhem was sleeping in his room.
Suddenly he woke from his dream. He saws an angel writing in
a book of gold. Abou asked him what he was writing. The angel replied that he was writing the names of those who loved God.
When Abou asked if his name was there in the list, the angel said it wasn’t. Abou requested the angel to write him as one who loved his fellow men. The angel wrote and disappeared. The next night the angel showed Abou the names of those who had been blessed with the love of God. Abou’s name was at the top of all other names.
Composition Writing
Reproduce the story of the poem in the form of a dialogue between Abou and the angel:
(One Night in Abou’s Room)
Abou: What are you doing here in my room, O Angel?
Angel: I am writing the names of those who love the Lord.
Abou: Is my name their?
Angel: No, it is not.
Abou: I request you to write my as one who loves his fellow men.
Angel: …………!
(The Next Night)
Abou: What are you writing now?
Angel: I am writing the names of those who had been blessed with love of God.
Abou: Is my name there?
Angel: Your name is on the top of all the names.
