Persian · noun · Love & Longing

Sanam-Khaana

सनम-ख़ाना

said sa-nam-khaa-naa

also written: Sanam-khana

Meaning

An idol-house or temple of idols; a gallery of beautiful beloveds.

Literally: house of idols

How Iqbal uses it

The sanam-khana houses the beautiful idols/beloveds and stands against the harem of the One; Iqbal works the idol-temple contrast into his Tauhid versus idolatry imagery.

See it in the verse

Sanam-Khaana in Iqbal’s couplets

Jinhen main dhundhta tha aasmanon mein zaminon mein
Wo nikle mere zulmat-khana-e-dil ke makinon mein

Those I searched for across the skies and the earth turned out to dwell in the darkened house of my own heart.

Self-Knowledge · Awakening · Selfhood

Related words

ARABIC

Sanam

Idol; metaphorically, the beloved.

PERSIAN

But-khaana

An idol-temple; a house of idols and false worship.

ARABIC

Husn

Beauty, comeliness, especially the beauty of the beloved.

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