Table of Contents
The Shepherd and the Dancing Goats
The journey of coffee began with a young goat herder named Kaldi. According to tradition, Kaldi was tending his flock in the highlands of Ethiopia (which had close ties to Yemen).
One day, he noticed his goats acting very strangely—they were jumping, dancing, and full of energy! He realized they had been eating bright red berries from a certain bush. Curious, Kaldi tried the berries himself and felt a sudden wave of energy.
He brought these berries to a local monk, but the monk thought they were a distraction and threw them into a fire. Suddenly, a delicious aroma filled the air. The roasted beans were gathered from the ashes, ground up, and dissolved in hot water—creating the very first cup of coffee.
Why it is Called “Qahwa”
In Arabic, coffee is called Qahwa. Originally, this word was used to describe something that “gives strength” or “suppresses hunger.” To the early Muslims, Qahwa was a “blessed” drink. It was later called the “Wine of Islam” by Europeans because it provided a natural “energy” for the mind without the harmful effects of alcohol, which is forbidden in our faith.
The Sufi Connection: Staying Awake for Allah
The true art of brewing coffee was perfected in Yemen during the 15th century. Sufi scholars and worshippers discovered that Qahwa was the perfect companion for their spiritual nights.
They drank it to stay alert during Tahajjud (night prayers) and long sessions of Dhikr (remembrance of Allah). For them, coffee was a tool for worship, helping the mind stay sharp while the heart focused on the Divine.
Mocha coffee
Mocha coffee originates from the historic Yemeni port city of Al-Makha (or Mocha), a key 15th-18th century trading hub where high-quality Arabica beans with natural chocolatey notes were exported, leading to the term “mocha” for both the rare Yemeni coffee and the modern chocolate-coffee drink. The city, located on Yemen’s Red Sea coast in the Taiz Governorate, gave its name to these prized beans, renowned for their rich flavor that Europeans associated with chocolate hints, eventually inspiring the sweet espresso-and-chocolate beverage known today.
Baba Budan and the Sacred Seven Seeds
For centuries, the Arabs protected coffee, only exporting roasted beans so they couldn’t be grown elsewhere. However, in the 17th century, a brave Sufi saint named Baba Budan went on the Hajj pilgrimage to Makkah.
On his way back, he stopped at the port of Mocha in Yemen. Wanting to bring this blessing to his home in India, he hid seven raw coffee seeds against his chest, strapped under his clothing.
He planted these seeds in the Chandragiri Hills of Karnataka, India. Today, those mountains are called the Baba Budangiri Hills in his honor. From those seven seeds, the entire coffee industry of India was born.
From Istanbul to the “Schools of the Wise”
Coffee eventually reached the capital of the Ottoman Empire, Istanbul. The first coffee houses were opened there, and they were so full of intellectual debate, poetry, and chess that they were called Mekteb-i ‘Irfan or “Schools of the Wise.”
When European travelers saw how this drink made the Muslims so intelligent and alert, they began to import it. Eventually, the word Qahwa became Kahve in Turkish, Koffie in Dutch, and finally Coffee in English.
A Legacy of Pride
As Muslims, we should feel proud every time we see a coffee shop. It is a reminder of our ancestors’ innovation, their spiritual devotion, and their desire to share goodness with the world.
Visualizing History: Imagine a brave Sufi saint, Baba Budan, standing on a misty green hill in India, carefully planting seven tiny seeds that would one day wake up the entire world. This is the power of a single person with a vision.
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