Word Meaning
जलाली
jalālī
Meaning
Majestic, awe-inspiring, or terrible; pertaining to divine grandeur and awe.
Detailed Meaning
In Islamic mysticism and Sufism, 'jalālī' denotes attributes of God expressing overwhelming majesty, power, and awe, contrasted with 'jamālī' (mercy and beauty). In Ghalib's couplet, 'asmā-e-jalālī' evokes these terrifying divine names whose grandeur completely obliterates the lover's fragile existence, just as the blazing sun vanishes dew.
Etymology
Arabic (from 'jalāl', majesty or glory, combined with the nisba suffix '-ī').
Usage
In classical Urdu poetry, it is frequently paired or contrasted with 'jamālī' to juxtapose terrifying divine majesty with tender romantic beauty.
Examples
His jalali temperament filled the gathering with silent awe.
The mystic was overwhelmed by the contemplation of jalali names.