Word Meaning
मुंसिफ़ी
munṣifī
Meaning
Justice, equity, impartiality, or the act of fair judgment.
Detailed Meaning
In classical Urdu poetry, 'munsifi' denotes the act of fair arbitration, equity, and unbiased judgment. In this couplet, the speaker invokes fairness to assert their complete innocence, arguing that an impartial judge would find them entirely blameless. It captures the tension between unmerited punishment and genuine righteousness.
Etymology
From Arabic root n-ṣ-f (نصف, 'to act equitably') yielding the active participle 'munṣif' (judge/arbiter), compounded with the Persian abstract suffix '-ī'.
Usage
In the ghazal, poets frequently invoke 'munsifi' to protest the arbitrary cruelty of the beloved or the unjust decrees of destiny.
Examples
To expect justice from a cruel beloved
A plea for impartiality before the court of love