Word Meaning
असतग़्फ़फ़िरुल्लाह
astaghfirullah
Meaning
I seek Allah's forgiveness; an expression of repentance, shock, or mock dismay.
Detailed Meaning
Literally translating to 'I seek forgiveness from God', this Arabic phrase is invoked by Muslims to atone for sin or show remorse. In the couplet, it is used with poetic irony to express theatrical horror at doubting the 'pir-e-mughan' (the tavern elder). Urdu ghazals often deploy such pious expressions in tavern settings to blur the line between spiritual orthodoxy and romantic revelry.
Etymology
Arabic: compound phrase formed from 'astaghfiru' (I seek forgiveness) and 'Allah' (God).
Usage
In classical ghazal tradition, poets commonly utter this pious phrase with playful irony to feign pious shock at worldly or tavern indulgences.
Examples
Astaghfirullah, what blasphemy escapes your lips!
Hearing the beloved's cruel decree, lovers cried out, 'Astaghfirullah!'