The background of coffee and tea is very ancient and brilliant, and their relationship with the world of study is so deep and long-standing that these two drinks are not just beverages but companions and comforters of the reader. They are the silent companions of intellectual solitude, which give polish to the mind, purity to the nature, and freshness to the thought, and provide a peaceful, pleasant, and focused environment in which a person descends into the depths of the meaning of the text and expands and matures his perception and insight.


It is by no means surprising that students and men of literature—especially in the subtleties of dawn or in the pleasantness of a quiet night—take refuge in them; for these are the hours when the companionship of coffee and tea creates a special state of wakefulness and absorption, which proves to be very helpful and supportive for prolonged study and careful research.
The literati have also not kept these drinks merely at the level of taste or habit, but have made them an integral part of their thoughts and feelings, giving them a prominent place in poetry and prose. Thus, sometimes the seriousness of thought is reflected in the bitterness of coffee, and sometimes the softness of feeling is evident in the delicacy of tea. To the extent that some poets have written independent odes on their beauty and effect and presented them as a symbol of life.
The circumstances and biographies of the scholars are also a clear proof of this deep relationship; often it happened that until the measure of coffee or the cup of tea was ready, neither the pen moved nor the mind flew. Furthermore, maqahi (coffee houses) were not just recreational places but became centers of culture and literature, where gatherings of intellectuals were held, an atmosphere of debates and discussions was established, and from where many fresh ideas and lasting impressions came to the fore.
So, coffee and tea are not just a daily habit, but the basic elements of intellectual life that accompany the reader, stimulate his taste for reading, and by participating in his journey of knowledge and awareness, illuminate his paths and make his thought radiant.


Muhammad Musaab Palanpuri