Word Meaning
यूसुफ़
Yusuf
Meaning
Prophet Joseph, proverbial symbol of supreme beauty and longing in Persian and Urdu poetry.
Detailed Meaning
In Islamic tradition and classical Urdu poetry, Yusuf (the biblical Joseph) is celebrated for his supreme physical beauty and his separation from his father. In this couplet, he is referenced in connection with his shirt (boo-e-pairahan), whose fragrance famously restored the sight of his grieving father, the elder of Canaan (Yaqub). He serves as an enduring poetic archetype for the beloved whose distant presence brings healing and longing.
Etymology
Hebrew (Yōsēp̄) via Arabic (Yūsuf).
Usage
Frequently invoked in Urdu ghazals alongside Zulaikha or Yaqub as the consummate embodiment of peerless beauty and trial.
Examples
The market of Egypt stood astonished at Yusuf's grace.
He awaits the scent of Yusuf's robe to heal his sight.