Word Meaning
वाले
waale
Meaning
Inhabitants, dwellers, or people associated with a particular place or attribute.
Detailed Meaning
In Hindustani grammar, 'wale' is an inflection of the ubiquitous suffix 'wala', denoting possession, origin, occupation, or agency. In this famous couplet by Iqbal, it combines with the infinitive 'rehne' to signify 'dwellers' or 'inhabitants'. It underlines the collective singularity of true lovers whose unconventional nature makes them seem like visitors from another realm.
Etymology
Derived via Middle Indo-Aryan/Prakrit from Sanskrit 'पाल' (pāla, protector/keeper) or 'वाल' (vāla).
Usage
Commonly appended to infinitives or nouns in Urdu ghazals to personify a condition or designate the residents of a symbolic realm like the beloved's street or tavern.
Examples
Dwellers of the lane of the beloved
Those who endure the sorrows of separation