Word Meaning
आरिफ़ों
ārifoñ
Meaning
Knowers of divine truth or spiritual secrets; mystics; gnostics (plural oblique).
Detailed Meaning
In Sufi and philosophical poetry, 'aarif' denotes a spiritually enlightened mystic who possesses direct, experiential knowledge of divine reality rather than theoretical learning. In Iqbal's couplet, 'khudi ke aarifon' signifies those enlightened individuals who have recognized the true latent power of the Self (khudi). Such mastery grants them an elevated spiritual sovereignty equivalent to kingship.
Etymology
Arabic root 'ع-ر-ف' (ʿ-r-f, to know/recognize); active participle 'ʿārif' (knower/gnostic) with the Hindustani plural oblique suffix '-on'.
Usage
In classical Urdu ghazal and Sufi poetry, the word contrasts the spiritually illuminated mystic (aarif) with the rigid, pedantic scholar (aalim or zahid).
Examples
The speech of the knowers reveals unseen mysteries.
None but the mystics grasp the secret of the heart.