इल्तिमास

Meaning

Humble request, petition, solicitation, or entreaty.

Detailed Meaning

In classical Urdu poetry, 'iltimās' denotes a polite, fervent appeal or humble entreaty. In this verse, Ghalib figures formal hesitation as an agonizing thorn pricking the desperate plea of inner restlessness ('iltimās-e-be-qarārī'). It encapsulates the lover's aching desire to plead directly to the beloved without the crippling interference of etiquette.

Etymology

Arabic, from the root l-m-s (ل م س) meaning to touch; Form VIII verbal noun (ifti‘āl: iltimās), meaning seeking or humble petition.

Usage

Often employed in the ghazal tradition to evoke the delicate, respectful posture of a supplicant lover before the indifferent beloved.

Examples

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Related Words