Word Meaning
आख़िरत
ākhirat
Meaning
The afterlife, the next world, or existence after death.
Detailed Meaning
In classical Urdu poetry and Islamic eschatology, 'ākhirat' denotes the hereafter or life after physical death. In the given couplet, it designates the ultimate destination for which the speaker prepares spiritual provisions ('tosha') as mortality looms. The term frequently evokes themes of divine accountability, transience of the worldly life, and spiritual awakening.
Etymology
Arabic (آخِرَة / ākhirah), from the root ء-خ-ر (ʾ-kh-r) meaning 'last', 'end', or 'rear'.
Usage
In ghazal poetry, 'ākhirat' is commonly contrasted with 'dunyā' to emphasize the fleeting nature of worldly existence.
Examples
The anxiety of the hereafter weighs upon the traveler.
Trading worldly vanity for the eternal bliss of the afterlife.