Word Meaning
ला-मकाँ
lā-makāñ
Meaning
The placeless realm; the infinite, boundless transcendent realm beyond physical space.
Detailed Meaning
In mystical and philosophical Urdu poetry, 'la-makan' signifies the placeless, transcendent dimension entirely free from physical space and geometry, traditionally identified with the presence of God. In this couplet, Iqbal interrogates the emptiness of this infinite sphere, audaciously questioning whether the expanse of desire and longing belongs to the Creator or the human seeker. It stands in contrast to 'makan', the bounded temporal universe.
Etymology
Arabic: compound of 'lā' (لا, without/no) and 'makān' (مکان, place/space).
Usage
It is commonly employed in mystical poetry to juxtapose the constrained, mortal world of 'makan' with the infinite, omnipresent reality of God.
Examples
A journey from the physical world into the placeless realm.
The unmanifested light is radiant in la-makan.