Abu Nuwas

Abu Nuwas ‘أﺑﻮ ﻧﻮﺍﺱ‘ was a classical Arab poet, who lived in Baghdad during the Abbasid reign.

He was an alcoholic. Drinking intoxicants is a major sin in the sight of God, but he repented towards the end of his life, may his repentance be accepted.

He was a charming smooth criminal, and was always ready with an answer.

It is reported:

‎‏ﻭﺟﺪ ﻫﺎﺭﻭﻥ ﺍﻟﺮﺷﻴﺪ أﺑﻮ ﻧﻮﺍﺱ ﻭﻣﻌﻪ ﺧﻤﺮ
‎‏ﻓﺴﺄﻟﻪ : ﻣﺎﺫﺍ ﺑﻴﺪﻙ ؟
‎‏ﻓأﺟﺎﺏ : ﻟﺒﻦ !!
‎‏ﻓﻘﺎﻝ ﻫﺎﺭﻭﻥ : ﻭﻫﻞ ﺍﻟﻠﺒﻦ أﺣﻤﺮ ؟
‎‏ﻓﺮﺩ أﺑﻮ ﻧﻮﺍﺱ : ﻟﻘﺪ ﺍﺣﻤﺮَّ ﺧﺠﻼً ﻣﻨﻚ ﻳﺎ أﻣﻴﺮ ﺍﻟﻤﺆﻣﻨﻴﻦ!
Caliph Haroon al-Rasheed once saw Abu Nuwas with a cup of wine and asked: “what is this in your hand?”
Abu Nuwas replied: “milk.”
Haroon al-Rasheed asked: “red milk?”
Abu Nuwas replied: “it blushed when it saw you, o Leader of the believers….” 🥴