Word Meaning
हमाइल
hamā'il
Meaning
A suspended amulet, necklace, or arm wrapped around the beloved's neck in embrace.
Detailed Meaning
In classical poetry, 'hamā'il' refers to a small pocket Qur'an, amulet, or sword-belt suspended from the neck across the torso. In romantic ghazals, it is frequently used as a metaphor for clasping one's arms tightly around the beloved's neck. In this couplet, it represents the persistent desire of the lover to remain draped around the beloved's neck at all times like a treasured pendant.
Etymology
Arabic (حَمَائِل, hamā'il), plural of 'ḥimālah' (sword-belt or baldrick), from the root ḥ-m-l meaning 'to carry'.
Usage
Commonly invoked in classical ghazals as an elegant motif for lovers' arms interlocked around the beloved's neck.
Examples
To drape an arm like a hamā'il around the beloved's neck
A sacred hamā'il worn close to the heart