कफ़ील

Meaning

A guarantor, sponsor, surety, or one who assumes responsibility for another.

Detailed Meaning

In classical Islamic jurisprudence and Urdu idiom, 'kafeel' denotes a surety or guarantor who bears legal and moral responsibility. In Ghalib's couplet, negligence or oblivion ('ghaflat') is personified as the surety that guarantees life, ironically creating a false sense of security against imminent mortality.

Etymology

Arabic root k-f-l (ك-ف-ل), related to taking responsibility, sponsoring, or providing custody.

Usage

In ghazal poetry, legalistic terms like 'kafeel' and 'zamin' are frequently employed metaphorically to dramatize the existential contracts of love, fate, and mortality.

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