Word Meaning
निसबत
nisbat
Meaning
Relation, connection, ratio, affinity, or comparison between things.
Detailed Meaning
Nisbat refers to an affinity, correlation, or proportional relationship between two entities. In this couplet by Ghalib, it denotes the mutual ratio and connection between divine mercy (rahmat) and divine wrath (ghazab), analogized as rain-cloud and lightning. It captures how contrasting forces are organically intertwined.
Etymology
Arabic (نِسْبَة / nisbah), derived from the root n-s-b relating to lineage, relation, or attribution.
Usage
In classical Urdu poetry, 'nisbat' frequently appears in izafat constructions to contrast human unworthiness against divine or beloved majesty.
Examples
What relation does dust have to the pure world above?
A subtle affinity binds the lover to the beloved.