Word Meaning
ख़ियाम
khiyām
hinoun (plural)
Meaning
Tents or pavilions, particularly celestial pavilions of paradise.
Detailed Meaning
Plural of 'khaima' (tent), referring to pavilions, encampments, or canopies. In classical Urdu poetry and Islamic eschatology, it specifically evokes the luxurious pavilions of Paradise prepared for the righteous and the houris. In Iqbal's couplet, it symbolizes conventional heavenly rewards that a selfless seeker of the Divine must transcend.
Etymology
Arabic (خِیَام, broken plural of خَیْمَة khaymah, meaning 'tent').
Usage
In classical and philosophical Urdu ghazal, it is frequently coupled with 'hoor' to represent orthodox conceptions of celestial rewards.
Examples
Beyond the celestial maidens and tents
The distant tents of the desert caravan
Synonyms
खेमेतम्बूडेरेशामियाने
Related Words
ख़ैमाहूरजन्नतक़ियाम