Salt, namak, malahat

This is beautiful, no heart attacks

 

wanted to make an attempt at this after Jum'ua prayers. brother abu Hasan beat me to it, and did a wonderful job.

 

Subhan'Allah Sidi Abu Hasan

 

a) namak = "salt", as is commonly known; but also figuratively used as 'beauty' and 'elegance' among other metaphors.

b) namak khana = 'partook of his salt' meaning, in his service, receives sustenance from him, lives on his pay.

c) namak ki qasam = 'swear by his salt' meaning, loyal to him. loyal servant.

d) qasam khana = 'to swear'

e) maliH = saltish; from milH, meaning salt; figuratively used as a comely, beautiful, handsome, beauty, radiance, statliness, grace, elegance etc.

f) dil aara = beloved

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notice that multiple idioms are crossed, and you will miss it if you are not paying attention:

1. husn khata hai jis ka namak - meaning beauty receives sustenance from him; here khaana is part of the idiom 'namak khana'

2. husn khata hai namak ki qasam - and here khaana is part of the qasam - i.e. - 'qasam khana' which is itself an idiom. to swear.

3. then there is namak ki qasam - meaning, beauty is a loyal servant of his.


beauty takes from his morsels, i swear - husn khaata hai jis ka namak, uski QASAM. [the qasam is the poet's]

beauty swears by his radiance and grace - husn jis ke jamaal (i.e. namak) ki qasam khata hai [here namak is used as 'beauty']

beauty is a loyal sworn servant of his - husn jis ke namak-ki-qasam khata hai. [here namak is from the other idiom: "namak ki qasam"]

sallALlahu alayhi wa sallam.

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the next line is a translation of the hadith: wordplay on the 'namak' or 'maliH' or 'namkeen' used in the first line:

that elegant, beautiful, stately and handsome, and beloved is our prophet. SallAllahu alahyi wa sallam.

====================

beauty takes from his morsels, i swear
that elegant, beautiful, stately and handsome, and beloved is our prophet. SallAllahu alahyi wa sallam.

beauty swears by his radiance and grace
that elegant, beautiful, stately and handsome, and beloved is our prophet. SallAllahu alahyi wa sallam.

beauty is a loyal sworn servant of his
that elegant, beautiful, stately and handsome, and beloved is our prophet. SallAllahu alahyi wa sallam.

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WARNING: literalists may get heart attacks. please relax. and read the hadith of SaHiH muslim, 2340:

 

the number of urdu idioms used make it difficult to translate. what an example of sahl mumtaniy!