Word Meaning
क़िब्ला
qibla
Meaning
Focal point of reverence or prayer; direction of the Kaaba; cynosure.
Detailed Meaning
Literally denoting the direction of the Kaaba towards which Muslims face during prayer, 'qibla' metaphorically signifies the ultimate object of devotion, desire, or reverence. In this couplet, it represents the beloved, who serves as the sacred cynosure and ultimate destination of the lover's beseeching gaze.
Etymology
Arabic, from the root q-b-l (ق-ب-ل), conveying the sense of facing, receiving, or being in front of.
Usage
In the classical ghazal, poets frequently elevate mundane romance to a spiritual plane by calling the beloved or their threshold their 'qibla'.
Examples
The beloved's street became the sacred direction of the heart.
Turned my humble face towards the cynosure of hope.