Word Meaning
मजाल
majāl
Meaning
Daring, audacity, power, or capacity to do something.
Detailed Meaning
In Urdu poetry, 'majāl' denotes power, daring, or the presumption to undertake an action, frequently occurring in rhetorical negatives. In this couplet, the poet asks how he could dare disrespect the city jurist, employing humility before asserting his inner pursuit of spiritual expansion. It conveys self-effacing politeness while subtly maintaining independent convictions.
Etymology
Arabic 'majāl' (مجال), meaning scope, room, or capability, derived from the root j-w-l (ج-و-ل).
Usage
In classical ghazal, it is predominantly used in the interrogative construction 'kyā majāl' to convey reverence, powerlessness, or polite defiance.
Examples
What audacity do I possess to question your decree?
No one had the power to utter a single word in reply.