बे-शरफ़

Meaning

Dishonorable, ignoble, lacking dignity, nobility, or respect.

Detailed Meaning

The compound adjective 'be-sharaf' signifies being devoid of nobility, prestige, or moral stature. In this couplet, it qualifies mere physical existence ('hayat-e-be-sharaf') as an ignoble form of death when contrasted with the glorious, noble death found in true passion ('ishq'). It functions as an explicit foil to 'ba-sharaf' (possessing honor).

Etymology

Persian privative prefix 'be-' (without) + Arabic 'sharaf' (nobility, high rank, honor).

Usage

In classical Urdu poetry, it is frequently contrasted with 'ba-sharaf' to pit ignoble worldly survival against the noble self-annihilation of love.

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Related Words