Word Meaning
मा'बूद
ma'būd
Meaning
The one who is worshipped; deity, God, or the idolized beloved.
Detailed Meaning
In classical poetry, 'ma'būd' primarily denotes God or the true object of worship. In mystical (Sufi) and allegorical traditions, it often represents the divine essence manifested in man, or metaphorically, the idealized beloved. In this couplet, the speaker boldly asserts that those gifted with true spiritual insight recognize them as the divine presence itself.
Etymology
Arabic (مَعْبُود), passive participle from the root ع-ب-د (ʻ-b-d), meaning 'to worship' or 'to serve'.
Usage
Commonly used in ghazals to evoke the intersection between religious devotion to God and ecstatic adoration of the beloved.
Examples
ma'bud-e-haqiqi ki talash (the search for the true deity)
dil ne use apna ma'bud bana liya (the heart made him its idol/god)