Word Meaning
क़िबला
qibla
Meaning
Direction of prayer (Kaaba); metaphorically, an object of adoration, focus, or refuge.
Detailed Meaning
Literally denoting the direction of the Kaaba faced during Muslim prayers, the term is widely used metaphorically in poetry to signify the ultimate focus of veneration, desire, or supplication. In this couplet, it forms the compound 'qibla-e-haajat' (the focal point or fulfiller of all needs), playfully exalting ecstatic intoxication over the ascetic orthodoxy of the Sheikh.
Etymology
Arabic root q-b-l (ق-ب-ل), relating to turning toward, facing, or the front direction.
Usage
In the ghazal tradition, poets routinely juxtapose the sacred 'qibla' of the mosque against the beloved's doorway or the tavern to subvert rigid religious ritual in favor of mystical devotion.
Examples
Turning away from the Kaaba, the lover made the beloved's threshold his true qibla.
For the seeker of grace, intoxication became the ultimate qibla of desire.