Word Meaning
नूरी
nūrī
hiadjective
Meaning
Luminous, made of celestial light; angelic or heavenly being.
Detailed Meaning
In Islamic and classical Urdu metaphysics, 'nūrī' describes beings fashioned from divine light, predominantly angels, in contrast to 'khākī' beings made of dust. In this verse by Iqbal, it signifies the celestial or angelic realm. The poet asserts that genuine spiritual mastery (tark) lies not in withdrawal, but in mastering both the earthly and celestial spheres.
Etymology
Arabic 'nūr' (light) + Persian adjectival suffix '-ī'.
Usage
In ghazal and nazm traditions, 'nūrī' is frequently paired with 'khākī' to highlight the dichotomy between angelic purity and earthly human fragility.
Examples
Taskhīr-e-khākī o nūrī
Paiykar-e-nūrī
Synonyms
रौशनमुनव्वरमलकूतीप्रकाशमान
Related Words
नूरख़ाकीनूरानीतजल्ली