Word Meaning
मसाईल
masaa'il
Meaning
Issues, questions, philosophical matters, or doctrines (plural of mas'ala).
Detailed Meaning
In classical Urdu, 'masaa'il' is the broken plural of 'mas'ala', designating profound subjects, religious tenets, or scholarly questions. In Ghalib's couplet, it denotes the subtle inquiries and intricate philosophical doctrines of Sufism (tasavvuf). The term highlights the depth and theoretical authority with which the poet articulates mystical truths.
Etymology
Arabic, broken plural of mas'ala (مسألة), from the root s-'-l (س-أ-ل), meaning 'to ask' or 'to inquire'.
Usage
In Urdu poetry, the word is often invoked in contexts contrasting dry intellectual or religious doctrines with heartfelt spiritual experience.
Examples
These matters of life left the wanderer perplexed.
The delicate questions of love remain difficult to resolve.