Word Meaning
शहीदान
shaheedan
Meaning
Martyrs; those slain or sacrificed, especially lovers killed by the beloved.
Detailed Meaning
In Persian and classical Urdu poetry, 'shahīdān' is the Persian plural of 'shahīd' (martyr). While historically denoting religious or battlefield martyrs, in ghazal convention it allegorically refers to devoted lovers slain by the tyranny (sitam) of the beloved. In this couplet, it represents the past victims whose tragic fates are mirrored upon the oppressor's blade.
Etymology
Arabic 'shahīd' (witness, martyr) combined with the Persian plural suffix '-ān'.
Usage
In the ghazal tradition, this word is famously used to elevate the suffering and mortality of the rejected lover to a sacred sacrifice.
Examples
the assembly of the martyrs of love
the blood of martyrs on the killer's blade