क़याम

Meaning

Standing upright, staying, or the standing posture in Islamic ritual prayer.

Detailed Meaning

In general usage, 'qayam' signifies standing upright, halting, staying, or taking up residence. In Islamic ritual prayer (namaz), it is the obligatory standing posture from which Quranic verses are recited. In this couplet, it refers specifically to that required moment of standing prayer, juxtaposed ironically against falling into premature prostration (sajda).

Etymology

Arabic root q-w-m (ق-و-م), meaning to stand, rise, or persist; related to 'qiyāmat' and 'iqāmat'.

Usage

In ghazal poetry, 'qayam' is commonly employed either in sacred juxtaposition with 'sajda' (prostration) or in mundane/romantic senses signifying stability and residing in the beloved's street.

Examples

Synonyms

Related Words