Personal Blog Of Mohib Ahmad

Ramadan Blogging: Day 8

September 21st, 2007 Posted in Islam, Ramadan Blogging, USA

Whenever I hear the month of Ramadan is approaching, I am reminded of this anecdote of Mirza Ghalib. As we all know, some aspects of Ghalib’s life were not palatable to everyone. When he was asked to appear before a British tribunal after the 1857 war of independence, the officer asked Ghalib if he was a Muslim. Ghalib wittingly replied, aadhaa huuN (yes, half). The officer persisted how come half, to which Ghalib said ‘I drink wine but do not eat pork’.

The anecdote about Ramadan goes like this. Mufti saahab (Islamic jurist) was a good friend of Ghalib and used to frequent his house. Once during Ramadan, Mufti saahab visited Ghalib in his room and found him indulging in wine-drinking. Mufti saahab was amazed and said, ‘Mirza, I have heard a hadith that the Satan is chained during the month of Ramandan. Now seeing you in this condition, I am getting doubtful about the authenticity of that hadith.’ Ghalib calmly replied, ‘Mufti saahab, do not doubt the hadith as you have just heard that the Satan is chained. Actually, this is the room in which he is imprisoned.’

  1. 2 Responses to “Ramadan Blogging: Day 8”

  2. By bhupinder on Sep 22, 2007

    Then there is one about Ramadan as well.
    Some one asked him: “Mirza Sahib aap nay kitney rozey rakhey hain (how many days did you observe a fast)?” Ghalib replied cryptically: “Ek nahin rakha”
    (which can mean that he either he did not keep one or that he never kept one).

  3. By Mohib on Sep 22, 2007

    Bhupinder:

    lol. Yes, I forgot that one.

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