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Following the examples of the Mufti of Aden
and his monks, religious communities throughout Arabia took up the
practice of drinking coffee. Little by little, however, its uses spread
beyond religious confines. Aden's citizens were among the first to take
up the habit. Since the Mufti was a respected authority on Muslim law
and presumably would not knowingly consume an illegal substance himself,
they were keen to follow his example and try this new drink themselves.
Coffee-drinking took place in the mosque
where, after the monks had had their fill, the Imam offered it to others
who happened to be present. Served in this ceremonious manner against a
background of devout chanting, coffee drinking was seen as a wholesome
and pious activity. However, everyone who tasted coffee liked it and
wanted more, and it was not long before word spread of the rewards to be
reaped from visiting the mosque.
Anxious to quell the trend, religious
authorities tried in vain to restrict coffee consumption. Imams and
monks were allowed to imbibe, but only in conjunction with their nightly
prayers; physicians were also allowed to prescribe small quantities.
However, as the less spiritually inclined continued to make late-night
appearances at the mosque, and doctors increasingly began to prescribe
coffee for all manner of ills, it was hard to curtain its use.
Recipients in the mosque found coffee a
pleasant stimulant and conducive to sociability. Before long, the
beverage was sold openly in the area, attracting a motley crowd of law
students, night workers and travelers. Eventually, the whole city took
up the practice, not just at night but round-the-clock and in the home
too. Not surprisingly, the hot, strong coffee was particularly popular
during Ramadan, when fasting is obligatory from sunrise to sunset.
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