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5 Urdu couplets and shers with ruuh

ruuh(m): soul, spirit

Description of ruuh: Ruuh is an Urdu word meaning "soul" or "spirit," referring to the immaterial essence that animates living beings. Unlike the physical body, which perishes, ruuh is believed to endure eternally in spiritual traditions. Differs from "nafs," which denotes the self or ego often tied to worldly desires. In Urdu poetry, ruuh evokes profound longing, as in verses where the lover's ruuh wanders restlessly toward the beloved.

1 / 5: ruuh

woh meri ruuh ki uljhan ka sabab jaanta hai

jism ki pyaas bujhaane

pe bhi raazi nikla

he knew the reasons of

my soul's turmoil

but he was content with

quenching his body's thirst

Saqi Faruqi (2)

ruuh (m) (5)

soul, spirit

uljhan (m) (1)

turmoil, entanglement

sabab (m) (2)

reason

jism (m) (6)

body

pyaas (m) (2)

thirst

raazi (m) (1)

content, willing

nikla (12)

turned out, came out

Theme: Loneliness, Separation, & Grief (118)

2 / 5: ruuh

uqaabi ruuh jab bedaar hoti hai jawaanon mein

nazar aati hai unko

apni manzil aasmaanon mein

when the soaring hearts

of the youth awaken

then they see their goals

in the skies above

Mohammad Iqbal (28)

uqaabi (1)

like an eagle, soaring

ruuh (m) (5)

soul, spirit

bedaar (2)

awaken, awakened

nazar (f) (32)

perspective, sight

manzil (f) (24)

goal, destination

Theme: Hopes, Aspirations, & Dreams (37)

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3 / 5: ruuh

us ne jaltee hui peshani pe jab haath rakhaa

ruuh tak aa gaee

taaseer maseehaaii ki

when she placed her hand

on my burning forehead

the healing effect reached

all the way to my soul

Parveen Shakir (16)

haath (m) (12)

hand

ruuh (m) (5)

soul, spirit

taaseer (m) (2)

force, impact

maseehaaii (1)

messianic, Christ-like

Theme: Friends, Family, & Community (139)

4 / 5: ruuh

ho ruuh ke taain jism se kis tarah mohabbat?

taair ko qafas se bhi

kahin ho hai mohabbat?

can the spirit truly

fall in love with the body?

can a bird ever feel

love for its own prison?

Taban Abdul Hai (6)

ruuh (m) (5)

soul, spirit

taain (m) (1)

towards

jism (m) (6)

body

tarah (16)

type, like, similar to

mohabbat (f) (41)

love

taair (m) (1)

bird

qafas (m) (5)

cage, prison

Theme: Oppression, Rebellion, & Freedom (61)

5 / 5: ruuh

kaaT kar par mutmain sayyaad beparwah na ho

ruuh bulbul ki

iraada rakhti hai parwaaz ka

having cut the wings,

may the hunter not rest content

the soul of the nightingale

is set on flying

Haidar Ali Aatish (6)

kaaT (3)

cut

par (m) (18)

wings, feathers / upon

mutmain (m) (1)

rest

sayyaad (m) (8)

captor, hunter

beparwah (1)

careless

ruuh (m) (5)

soul, spirit

bulbul (m) (8)

nightingale

iraada (m) (2)

desire

parwaaz (m) (2)

flight, soaring

Theme: Oppression, Rebellion, & Freedom (61)

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Featured Themes

Voice, Expression, & Language (78)

Oppression, Rebellion, & Freedom (61)

Loneliness, Separation, & Grief (118)

Beauty, Charm, & Union (109)

Miscellany (44)

Heart, Mind, & Memory (66)

Life, Learning, & Living (127)

Grit, Resilience, & Courage (58)

Religion, Reason, & Tradition (70)

Love, Passion, and Longing (113)

Nature, World & Universe (50)

Quest, Journey, & Destination (54)

Creativity, Philosophy, & Enlightenment (40)

Hopes, Aspirations, & Dreams (37)

Home, Country, & Belonging (30)

Friends, Family, & Community (139)

Alfaaz Ki Mehfil is a curated space for timeless poetry celebrating words, emotions, and the enduring beauty of expression. From classic Urdu couplets to modern reflections, it brings together generations of poetic voices that speak of love, longing, hope, and the human soul.

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ruuh(m): soul, spirit

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