The Concept of Samaa in Urdu Ghazal: A Brief Review

اردو غزل میں سماع کا تصور:  اجمالی جائزہ

Abstract

Samaa is a spiritual as well as cultural activity. In general, recitation of Holy Quran and reading of selected poetic verses in specially arranged private gatherings is called samaa. Being the masters of this art, Sufies have established rules and regulations for the effective commencement of such gatherings. Urdu ghazal is profoundly rich in the use of Sufistic terms. When it comes to the conceptualization and use of the term Samaa, one notices a wide range of emotions associated with this particularly favorite ritual of sufies. This paper aims at describing different dimensions how the Urdu poets have conceived this meaningful term and how did they present it in there poetic verses. It includes several poetic verses written by Siraj Aurangabadi, Imam Bakhsh Nasik, Shakir Naji, Akbar Ilah Abadi, Nawab Mustafa Khan Shefta, Altaf Hussain Hali, Khawaja Haider Ali Atish and Allama Iqbal.