Word Meaning
मुसहफ़
mus'haf
Meaning
A book, volume, scripture, or specifically the Quran.
Detailed Meaning
Literally referring to a bound volume of written sheets, it commonly denotes the Holy Quran. In classical Urdu poetry, it often represents the poet's own collection of verse elevated to divine reverence, or metaphorically, the beautiful, sacred face of the beloved. In this couplet, it refers to the speaker's collection of poetry compared proudly to a revered scripture.
Etymology
Arabic root ṣ-ḥ-f (ص-ح-ف), meaning a collection of written sheets or pages bound between two covers (مُصْحَف).
Usage
In ghazal poetry, 'mushaf-e-rukh' (the scripture of the face) is a frequent metaphor to praise the pure, divine beauty of the beloved.
Examples
The divine script upon the mushaf of your face
Read the sacred verses written in this mushaf