Word Meaning
मुग़ीलाँ
mughīlān
Meaning
Desert acacia or babool tree, notorious for its sharp thorns.
Detailed Meaning
In classical Urdu and Persian poetry, 'mughīlān' refers to the thorny wild acacia or babool tree native to arid regions. In the given couplet, the phrase 'khār-e-mughīlān' (thorn of the acacia) appears as sprouting from the lover's head instead of hair due to intense desolation. It serves as an iconic symbol of the agonies and physical trials endured by the wandering, maddened lover in the desert.
Etymology
Derived via Persian from the Arabic compound 'umm ghīlān' (أم غيلان, literally 'mother of demons/ghouls'), an epithet for the desert acacia.
Usage
Conventionally paired with 'khār' (thorn) in ghazals to depict the treacherous hardships of the wilderness of love.
Examples
khār-e-mughīlān (the thorn of the acacia)
sair-e-mughīlān (wandering among acacia thickets)