Word Meaning
शैतान
shaitan
Meaning
Satan; the devil; an evil spirit or wicked entity.
Detailed Meaning
In classical Urdu poetry, 'shaitan' denotes Satan or Iblis, the ultimate embodiment of temptation, pride, and malevolence. In this satirical couplet, the speaker derisively mocks the hypocritical piety of the sheikh by directly juxtaposing or identifying his figure with the devil. It serves as a sharp trope exposing sanctimonious pretense and base instincts hidden behind outward religious reverence.
Etymology
Arabic (شَيْطَان, shayṭān), historically derived from a Semitic root meaning 'adversary' or 'straying away from truth'.
Usage
Frequently invoked in ghazal satire to deflate the sanctimony of the ascetic and mock ostentatious righteousness.
Examples
To fall prey to the whisperings of the devil
The countenance of a sheikh with the soul of a devil