Word Meaning
त'अस्सुब
ta'assub
Meaning
Prejudice, bigotry, fanaticism, or stubborn sectarian bias.
Detailed Meaning
The term refers to an unyielding bias, fanaticism, or sectarian narrow-mindedness. In the context of the couplet, it signifies an unreasonable prejudice and hostility toward everything other than one's own narrowly perceived truth ('mā-siwā'). The poet critiques dogmatic self-absorption that blinds a person to wider reality.
Etymology
Arabic (تَعَصُّب), form V verbal noun from the triconsonantal root 'a-ṣ-b (ع-ص-ب), denoting partisanship, binding zeal, or fanaticism.
Usage
In classical Urdu poetry, ta'assub is commonly used to censure the sectarian rigidity, moral hypocrisy, and dogmatic intolerance of the preacher or orthodox ascetic.
Examples
free from the chains of prejudice
the blind prejudice of the orthodox