Word Meaning
हज
Haj
Meaning
The sacred annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca.
Detailed Meaning
In Islam, Hajj is the mandatory pilgrimage to Mecca that every financially and physically capable Muslim is expected to perform at least once. In this couplet, Ghalib playfully proposes to gift the immense religious reward of performing the pilgrimage to his patron or beloved in exchange for their companionship on the journey. Classical Urdu poets often invoke the Hajj to juxtapose formal orthodoxy with devotion to the beloved.
Etymology
Arabic (حَجّ, ḥajj), literally meaning 'to head towards' or 'to intend a visit to a revered place'.
Usage
In classical Urdu ghazal, Hajj often serves as a symbol of orthodox ritual observance, frequently contrasted with the true mystical pilgrimage of the lover's heart.
Examples
He undertook the journey of Hajj with sincere devotion.
The lover deems circumambulating the beloved's lane superior to Hajj.