Word Meaning
नकीरैन
Nakeerain
Meaning
The two interrogating angels of the grave (Munkar and Nakir).
Detailed Meaning
In Islamic belief, Nakeerain refers to Munkar and Nakir, the two angels who question the deceased in the grave regarding their faith. In this couplet, Ghalib humorously wonders if these stern angels will be startled and flee upon smelling the stale wine lingering on the poet's breath. It presents a playful, irreverent attitude toward death and religious reckoning.
Etymology
Arabic; dual form of 'Nakīr' (نَكِير), applied by the grammatical convention of taghlīb to signify both angels of the grave (Munkar and Nakir).
Usage
In classical Urdu ghazal, poets often mention Nakeerain with playful irony or defiance, contrasting pious sobriety with the intoxicated lover's irrepressible nature even in the grave.
Examples
Facing Nakeerain inside the solitary grave
A carefree response to the interrogation of Nakeerain