Word Meaning
बिल-लिसाँ
bil-lisaan
Meaning
Verbally; by the tongue; uttered orally rather than genuine belief.
Detailed Meaning
An Arabic adverbial compound meaning 'by the tongue' or 'orally'. In classical Islamic discourse, it refers to verbal proclamation (iqrār bi-l-lisān) as distinguished from conviction of the heart (tasdīq bi-l-qalb). In this couplet, it carries a biting irony where the speaker pretends to be satisfied with mere lip service from the orthodox cleric.
Etymology
Arabic, formed from the preposition 'bi-' (by/with), the definite article 'al-', and 'lisān' (tongue/language).
Usage
In classical Urdu ghazal, it is often paired with terms of inner belief to satirize superficial or hypocritical religiosity.
Examples
His declaration was merely by the tongue, devoid of inner faith.
A confession by the tongue cannot conceal the falsehood of the heart.