Word Meaning
मोहब्बत
mohabbat
Meaning
Love, affection, deep emotional attachment, or romantic devotion.
Detailed Meaning
In classical Urdu poetry, mohabbat represents affectionate love, emotional tenderness, and earnest attachment, often distinguished from the all-consuming, mad passion signified by ishq. It spans both earthly romantic devotion and sacred affection for the Divine or the Prophet. It frequently stands in contrast to the beloved's indifference, cruelty, or the world's hostility.
Etymology
Arabic (محبة / maḥabbah), derived from the triconsonantal root ḥ-b-b, meaning to love or hold dear.
Usage
In the ghazal tradition, mohabbat is often portrayed as an enduring state of fidelity contrasted with the beloved's jafaa (cruelty).
Examples
The pain of love could never be concealed.
In the path of love, fidelity is essential.