Word Meaning
रज़्ज़ाक़ी
Razzāqī
Meaning
The divine quality of providing sustenance; providence or bestowing of livelihood.
Detailed Meaning
In classical and theological Urdu poetry, 'razzāqī' denotes the divine attribute of being the universal sustainer and provider (derived from 'al-Razzāq'). In the quoted verse by Iqbal, it is used with tragic irony to lament how worldly governance (the throne) and institutional asceticism (the prayer rug) have been degraded into mere tools for seeking livelihood and material survival. It critiques the reduction of humanity's lofty spiritual purpose to an obsession with bread and status.
Etymology
Arabic, from the root r-z-q (to grant sustenance / provision), forming 'razzāq' (the All-Provider) with the Persian/Urdu abstract noun suffix '-ī'.
Usage
In Urdu poetry, it is primarily employed in philosophical or Sufi contexts to contrast complete reliance on God (tawakkul) with reliance on worldly patrons.
Examples
Trust not worldly masters, for true providence belongs solely to God.
The mystery of life is sustained by the eternal fountain of divine sustenance.