Word Meaning
रज़ा
razā
Meaning
Will, desire, consent, pleasure, or approval.
Detailed Meaning
In classical Urdu and Persian poetry, 'razā' denotes divine or personal will, approval, and contentment. In this couplet by Iqbal, it refers specifically to the human servant's exalted wish and will. The poet implies that through spiritual elevation and self-realization, a person's desire becomes paramount even in the shaping of destiny.
Etymology
Arabic origin from the root r-ḍ-w/y (ر-ض-و/ي), meaning contentment, pleasure, or approval (riḍā).
Usage
Traditionally associated in Sufi ghazals with submission to divine will (taslīm-o-razā), it is inverted by Iqbal to mean the sovereign desire of the spiritually realized individual.
Examples
To surrender completely to the will of the Beloved
What is your desire before the decree is written?