ABU NAWAS AND HIS POEM
Abu Nuwas al-Hasan ibn Hani al-Hakami (756–814 CE) was a renowned Arab poet of the Abbasid Caliphate, famous for his bold and innovative poetry. Born in Ahvaz and raised in Basra, he became a court poet in Baghdad. And here is his famous poem:
إلهي لَسْتُ لِلْفِرْدَوْسِ أَهْلًا
وَلَا أَقْوَى عَلَى النَّارِ الجَحِيمِ
فَهَبْ لِي تَوْبَةً وَاغْفِرْ ذُنُوبِي
فَإِنَّكَ غَافِرُ الذَّنْبِ العَظِيمِ
ذُنُوبِي مِثْلُ أَعْدَادِ الرِّمَالِ
فَاغْفِرْ لِي يَا ذَا الجُودِ وَالكَرِيمِ
وَعُمُرِي نَاقِصٌ فِي كُلِّ يَوْمٍ
وَذَنْبِي زَائِدٌ كَيْفَ احْتِمَالِي؟