Word Meaning
लअ'ल
la'l
Meaning
A precious red gemstone; ruby or spinel.
Detailed Meaning
In classical Urdu poetry, 'la'l' denotes a ruby or any deep-red precious gemstone valued for its beauty and rarity. In this couplet, it represents worldly wealth and material treasure, which the speaker ironically compares to his own neglected worth. It is also famously employed across Persian and Urdu ghazals as an evocative metaphor for the beloved's crimson lips.
Etymology
From Arabic and Persian 'لعل' (la'l), signifying a ruby, spinel, or garnet.
Usage
In Urdu ghazal imagery, 'la'l' functions either alongside gems like pearls and emeralds to denote immense material wealth, or metaphorically as 'la'l-e lab' to praise the ruby-red lips of the beloved.
Examples
Yearning for the ruby of the beloved's lips consumes the lover's life.
In a world filled with rubies and pearls, the true heart finds no buyer.