जाहिल

Meaning

Ignorant, unlettered, unaware, or foolish.

Detailed Meaning

Literally referring to an illiterate or uninformed person, in Urdu poetry it often denotes emotional foolishness, innocence, or being unaware of worldly cunning and romantic deceit. In this couplet by Ghalib, the lover self-deprecatingly accepts the beloved's accusation of being 'jaahil' (ignorant/foolish) along with 'zaalim', ironically turning the insult into an admission of helpless obsession.

Etymology

Arabic, from the triconsonantal root j-h-l (ج-ہ-ل), meaning 'to be ignorant' or 'lack knowledge'.

Usage

In classical ghazal, poets often deploy this term with biting irony or self-mockery against conventional worldly wisdom.

Examples

Synonyms

Related Words