THIS INDEX IS IN ENGLISH ALPHABETICAL ORDER. MORE NAMES AND INFORMATION WILL BE ADDED TO IT AS THE COMMENTARY PROGRESSES.

Adam / aadam -- In Islamic as in Judeo-Christian religious tradition, the name of the first man. His creation was not approved by the angels (Qur'an 2:30-34). == {96,3}; {98,2}; {219,3}
'Ali / ((alii -- The Prophet's cousin and son-in-law. == [{98,1}]; {141,5}; {216,1}, as saaqii-e kau;sar
'Ali Bahadur / ((alii bahaadur -- Navab Ali Bahadur was the ruler of the state of Bandah [baa;Ndah], and a patron of Ghalib's. == {99,10}
Allah (God) / all;aah -- An invocation of God, often exclamatory, more formal than 'Lord'. == {48,4}; {121,5}; {162,2}; {167,7}
Anonymous -- A bystander of some unspecified kind who offers a (usually sympathetic) comment, to or about the lover, almost always in the closing-verse (because of the presence of the pen-name). == Some examples: {7,7}; {15,15}; {20,11}; {22,9}; {25,9}; {32,3}: {71,10}; {72,7}
Anqa / ((anqaa -- A bird from Arabic story tradition, whose single defining trait is his not-there-ness. Whenever you try to catch him, he's gone. == {1,4}; {5,3}; {95,1}; {145,1}
Arif / ((aarif -- Ghalib's brother-in-law, whose early death evoked the melancholy ghazal {66}. == {66,5}
Asad / asad -- The poet's early pen-name, before he changed over to 'Ghalib'. His own comment on it: {219,1}. A list of closing-verses in which it appears: {2,1}; {3,6}; {3,14x}; {4,16x}; {5,9x}; {6,14x}; {7,7}; {8,5x}; {13,7}; {16,10x}; {18,7x}; {19,7}; {23,1}; {25,9}; {27,8}; {34,8}; {35,10}; {37,6x}; {38,7}; {40,6x}; {41,8}; {42,6}; {45,5}; {49,12}; {50,3}; {64,6}; {68,9x}; {71,10}, Asadullah Khan; {78,7}; {81,5}; {109,1}; {112,10}; {113, 9}; {114,7}; {119,10}; {140,6}; {141,7}; {148,10}; {152,7}; {153,10}; [{155,3}]; [{158,9}]; {167,10}; {189,9}; {190,10}; {193,5}; {199,4}; {200,3}; {210,7}; {214,12}; {221,3}; {228,10}
Atish / aatish -- Khvajah Haidar 'Ali 'Atish' (1777-1847) was a well-known ghazal poet. == {89,1}; {92,7}; {97,1}; {164,9}; {164,9}; {167,6}; {191,9}; {203,4}; {234,1}
Azurdah / aazurdah -- Mufti Sadr ud-Din Khan 'Azurdah' (1789-1868), scholar, Islamicist, and poet, was a close friend and confidant of Ghalib's. == {38,6}; {90,3}; {97,10}; {144,1}; {234,7}
Bahman / bahman -- One of the legendary kings in the Shah-namah. == {120,12}
Banat un-Na'sh (Daughters of the Bier) / banaat un-na((sh -- The constellation of the Pleiades. == {111,3}
Barbud / baarbud -- The name of a famous Persian musician. == {177,8}
Bedil / bedil -- Mirza 'Abd ul-Qadir 'Bedil' (1642-1720) was a famous Indo-Persian poet whom Ghalib greatly admired. == {8,5x}*; {12,7x}; {29,10x}; {155,3}
Brahmin / barhaman -- The Brahmin, as a symbolic high priest of Hinduism; his distinctive mark is the sacred thread [zunnaar]. == {60,8}; {120,8}; {204,7}
Bu Turab/ buu turaab -- Literally, the 'father of dust'. A title of Hazrat 'Ali. == {98,11}
Bulbul (Nightingale)/ bulbul -- The sweet singer of the garden, and the archetypal lover of the rose. == {33,3}; {58,8}; {77,3}; {80,1}; {111,9}; [{126,5}]; [{145,2}]; {187,2}, ((andaliib ; {199,3}; {210,4}; {228,5}, ((andaliib ; {228,8}, ((andaliib ; {230,5}; {231,5}. The only other garden bird who appears is the turtledove [qumrii], in {152,2} and {230,5}.
Dagh / daa;G -- Navab Mirza Khan 'Dagh' (1831-1905), a famous ghazal poet. == {30,1}; {87,3}; {96,2}; {101,5}; {111,10}; {189,10}; {191,7}; {197,2}; {208,11}; {219,2}
Darab / daaraab -- One of the legendary kings in the Shah-namah. == {120,12}
Darban (Doorkeeper) / darbaa;N -- The lover has one too, but of course the only one who really counts is the beloved's. See also Pasban. == {10,7}; {31,3}; {111,12}; {151,2}; [{202,7}]; {233,15}
Dard, Mir / miir dard -- Khvajah Mir 'Dard' (1720-85), a famous Sufi and ghazal poet. == {38,6}; {60,8}; {95,2}; {98,3}
Darvesh / darvesh -- A wandering religious mendicant who is expected to live on the alms given by the pious; see also Faqir. == {24,3}; {162,9}
Delhi / dillii -- [only one ref?] == {19,7}
Dijlah (Tigris) / dijlah -- The Tigris River, in Iraq. == {22,8}
Faqir / faqiir -- A wandering Muslim ascetic, who ideally lives on alms from the pious and generous; see also Darvesh. == {96,6}; {139,1}; {160,1}
Farhad / farhaad -- In Persian story tradition, a stone-mason who fell in love with the princess Shirin, wife of Khusrau. He's also known as Kohkan. The gist of his story is told in {1,2}. == {1,2}; {36,8}; {101,2}; {174,7}
Faridun / fariiduun -- One of the legendary kings in the Shah-namah. == {120,12}
Farishtah (Angel) / farishtah -- One of God's invisible winged servants; they often assist him in monitoring the doings of humankind. == {36,10}; {38,6}
Firdausi / firdausii -- The author of the Shah-namah [shaah-naamah], the Persian national epic. Ghalib speaks of Firdausi (c.934-1020) as the greatest of poets. == {139,1}; {219,6}
Ghair (Other) / ;Gair -- The Other Man, the (true) lover's (false) competitor for the favors of the beloved. See also Raqib. == {10,10}; {13,3}; {15,9}; {28,2}; {36,7}; {41,5}; {42,1}; {43,2}; {53,4}; {53,6}; {77,7}; {83,1}, said of a foreign country; {86,1}; {87,6}; {89,2}; {98,5}; {103,1}; {112,6}; {115,2}; {115,6}, aur ; {116,4}; {116,6}; {119,3}; {119,8}; {124,1}; {126,10}; {148,4}; {151,7}; {153,3}; {153,7}; {180,1}; {189,6}; {191,4}; {198,2}
Ghalib / mirzaa asadull;aa;h ;xaan ;Gaalib (1797-1869) -- the poet as commentator == {1,1}, {6,1}, {6,2}; {28,1}; {34,2}; {57,7}*, quoted by Hali; [{75,3}]; {97,5}; {110,1}; {111,1}; {112,3}; {115,6}; {155,1}; {155,2}; {155,3}*; {159,4}; {160,1}; {167,3}; {169,1} (2 comments); {183,5}; {191,7}*; {193,1}; {209,4}; {216,1}; {230,5}, quoted by Hali. In other cases, the poet quotes verses in his letters == {26,1}; {38,5}; {41,1}; {46,1}; {46,2} (2 instances); {46,6} (7 instances); {62} (2 instances of most of ghazal); {70,3} (2 instances); {85,8} (2 instances); {95,1}; {111,1-2}; {115,1}; {124,1}; {126}; {126,1 & 8}; {127,3}; {135,1}; [{139}] (?); {142,2}; {150,1}; {151,1}; {154,1}; {157,4}; {160,2}; {160,6}; (2 instances); {161}: 2 instances, various verses; {162,3}; {163}; {177,2}; {177,13}; {178,1} (2 instances); [{180,6}]; {180,7} (2 instances, with one word changed); {189,8} (3 instances); {191,1}; {191} (2 instances); {201}; {205,8} (echoed in a Persian letter); {208}; {208,12}; {209,1} (2 instances); {216,1}, 2 instances, various verses; {219,1}; {228,10}, 2 instances; {229,7}; {231,3} and two more verses
Gul-chin (Flower-picker) / gul chiin -- He is another version of the Hunter, and a danger to all the inhabitants of the garden. == {101,7}; {199,1}
Hamzah / ;hamzah -- The hero of the Persian/Urdu romance called qi.s.sah-e ;hamzah or daastaan-e amiir ;hamzah. I have written a book about this romance. == {22,7}. A major feature of Hamzah's world is the :tilism == {3,9x}; {29,3}; {157,7}; {173,11}; {203,2}
Hindi / hindii -- The word literally means 'pertaining to Hind', or 'Indian'. It was sometimes used by Ghalib and his contemporaries as another name for their own language, which they also called 'Urdu'. == {88,3}; {148,10}; {150,1}; {178,1} {189,2}; {189,2}; {161,1}; {194,5}; {228,4}; {228,10}
Huma / humaa -- The king-maker bird of Persian story tradition: anyone upon whom his shadow falls is destined to wield royal power. == {49,3}
Hur (Houri) / ;huur -- A celestial damsel of the kind that will be available to (male) believers in Paradise. See Quran 44:54 and 52:20. == {100,6}; {111,7}; [{139,1}]; {159,1}; {231,2}
'Id / ((iid -- The great Muslim festival that occurs at the end of the daytime-fasting month of Ramzan, and is inaugurated by the sight of the crescent moon. == {107,5}
Insha / inshaa -- Insha'allah Khan 'Insha' (1756-1817) was a lexicographer, occasional prose writer, and ghazal poet. == {190,10}; {191,5}
Iqbal / mu;hammad iqbaal -- Sir Muhammad Iqbal (1877-1938) , admiringly known as Allama [the learned] Iqbal, was not only one of the founders of Pakistan and a Persian poet of note, but also the greatest Urdu poet of the twentieth century. == {16,8x}; {24,6}
Isa (Jesus) / ((iis;aa -- In Islamic tradition, one of Jesus's chief miracles is his ability to breathe on the dying and restore them to life (for the basis of this idea see Quran 5:113). == {9,7}; {215,1} [ibn-e maryam]; {222,1}
Jallad (Executioner) / jallaad -- He usually acts at the direct and even enthusiastic command of the beloved. == {62,7}; {163,5}; {176,1}
Jamshid / jamshiid -- A famous Persian king in the Shah-namah who owned a magic world-revealing Cup, the jaam-e jam or jaam-e jamshiid . == {33,2}; {95,2}; {100,8}; {120,12}; {174,3}; {219,6}
Jur'at / jur))aat -- Shaikh Qalandar Bakhsh 'Jur'at' (1748-1809) was an Urdu poet in ghazal and other genres. == {126,3}
Ka'bah / ka((bah -- The holiest religious site for Muslims; it has the form of a squarish black building, and is located in Mecca; on its origin see Qur'an 2:125-27. The Ka'bah also marks the Qiblah, or direction of prayer, for Muslims (Qur'an 2:142-50). == {22,2}; {86,5}; {93,2x}; {95,1}; {115,2}, ;haram ; {118,1}; {120,8}; {123,10}, ;haram ; {141,5}; {161,10}; {163,7}; {208,9}; {231,6}; {232,6}, ;haram
Kausar / kau;sar -- The name of a fountain and river in Paradise, from which all other rivers are believed to flow; see Qur'an 108:1. == {98,1}; {216,1}
Khizr / ;xi.zr -- Khvajah Khizr is an important figure in Islamic folk tradition. More information about him is given in {68,1}. == {12,7x}; {68,1}; {151,4}; {159,6}; [{174,9}]; {215,9}; {234,3}
Khizr Sultan / ;xi.zr sul:taan -- This young prince (1831-57), a son of Bahadur Shah Zafar's, was also a shagird of Ghalib's -- {174,9}
Khuda (Lord) / ;xudaa -- A reference to God, of a slightly less formal kind than 'Allah' would provide. See also Rab. == {7,7}, ;haq ; {79,2}; {83,1}; {83,2}; {86,8}; {88,4}; {106,2}; {107,6}; {112,5}; {112,7}; {112,9}; {115,8}; {120,2}; {120,4}; {124,6}; {132,7}; {141,3}; {141,4}; {150,1}; {162,4}; {176,4}; {199,4}; {205,2}; {215,5}; {228,2}; {229,3}; {230,11}; {234,10}
Khusrau / ;xusrau -- Khusrau Parvez was the husband of Farhad's beloved Shirin. He is identified with the historical Khusrau II (r.590-628), the last king in the Sasanian dynasty. == {101,2}; {120,12}, kai;xusrau ; {121,8}
Kohkan / kohkan -- 'Mountain-digger', an epithet for Farhad. == {1,2}; {3,6}; {42,6}; {121,2}; {204,2}; {204,3}
Laila / lail;aa -- The beloved of Majnun. == {18,3}; {42,2}; {95,1}; {104,1}; {139,1}; {166,2}; {175,4}; {208,10}; {214,2}
Lucknow / lakhna))uu -- For information on Ghalib's visit to the city in 1827, see Russell and Islam, pp. 46-47. == {123,9}
Majnun / majnuun -- In Arabic story tradition, the classic mad-- literally, 'jinn-possessed'-- lover of Laila. His real name was Qais. == {6,1}; {6,10x}; {18,3}; {23,1}; {35,10}; {42,2}; {44,4x}; {61,3}; {139,1}; {140,6}; {147,3}; {159,5}; {166,2}; {208,10}; {214,2}; {228,7}
Malak ul-Maut (Angel of Death) / malak ul-maut -- The one among the Angels whom God sends to claim human souls when the appointed death-hour has arrived. == {66,7}
Mani / maanii -- A famous Central Asian miniature painter. == {184,1}
Mansur / man.suur -- The famous Sufi of 10th-century Baghdad who was executed for the heresy of repeatedly and publicly proclaiming an al-;haq, 'I am God/Truth'. == {21,8}; {100,4}; {128,1}; {204,2}
Masiha (Messiah) / ma.sii;haa -- A name for Jesus/Isa; more generally, any rescuer or healer. == {55,1}; {95,1}; {208,2}
Mir / mu;hammad taqii miir -- Muhammad Taqi 'Mir' (1722-1810) was Ghalib's great predecessor, and only real rival, as an Urdu ghazal poet. == {1,1}; {4,8x}; {6,4}; {31,1}; {36,2}; {36,8}; {36,11}*; {56,1}; {58,8}; {75,3}; {81,3}; {86,2}; {86,7}; {92,7}*; {92,8x}*; {111,1}; {111,1}; {111,10}; {137,2}; {154,4}; {161,7}; {197,2}; {204,9}; {208,9}; {206,2}; {213,2}; {217,2}; {227,1}; {228,9}; {232,6}
Mirza Yusuf / mirzaa yuusuf --Ghalib's younger (and only) brother (born 1799/1800), who went mad in 1826 and remained so until his death from a fever in 1857. == {202,9}
Momin / momin --Hakim Momin Khan 'Momin' (1800-52) was Ghalib's contemporary and a well-known Delhi ghazal poet. == {1,1}; {5,1}; {56,1}; {86,9}; {87,10}; {89,1}; {99,3}; {119,3}; {125,1}; {126,7}; {153,6}; {159,2}; {177,1}; {177,6}; {199,1}; {204,9}; {208,8}
Murgh (Bird)/ mur;G -- The lover may be imagined as a Bird who is trapped or snared, and thus deprived of access to his beloved garden. == {101,7}; {112,7}
Musa (Moses) / mus;aa -- Hazrat Musa, the Islamic counterpart of Moses, experienced on Mount Tur the unbearable glory of God's presence (Quran 7:143). == {36,5}; {53,2}
Najaf / najaf -- The Iraqi city, sacred to Shi'a Muslims, where Hazrat 'Ali is buried. == {123,10}
Nakhshab, Moon of / mah-e na;xshab -- A proverbial magic feat, in the form of an artificial moon that rose and set; see verse commentary for further information. == {38,2}
Nakiren (Recording Angels) / nakiire;N -- The two angels, Munkar [munkar] and Nakir [naakir], who visit a dead Muslim in the grave, sit on his shoulders, and interrogate him about his good and bad deeds. == {163,4}
Namah-bar (Messenger) / naamah-bar -- He carries letters and messages, usually (but not always) from the lover to the beloved. See also Qasid. == {14,9}; {46,4}; {106,1}; {159,4}; {160,4}; {176,4}; {201,1}
Namrud (Nimrod) / namruud -- [get info] == {26,6}
Nasih (Advisor) / naa.si;h -- The Advisor is always right in a prudential, worldly sense, and is always trying to straighten the lover out; but naturally the lover never listens to a word he says.== {4,7}; {19,3}; {19,5}; {20,5}; {60,8}; {61,8}
Nasikh / naasi;x -- Shaikh Imam Bakhsh 'Nasikh' (1776-1838) was a well-known ghazal poet, and a friend and correspondent of Ghalib's. == {92,7}; {98,11}; {111,1}; {111,9}; {112,9}; {163,4}; {167,9}
Nayyar / nayyar -- Arif's friend, Navab Ziya ud-Din Ahmad Khan 'Nayyar' (1821-85), a ghazal poet who also used the pen-name 'Rakhshan' [ra;xshaa;N]. == {66,8}
Pari / parii -- In Persian story tradition, members of the Pari race (the word is a cognate of 'fairy') are born of fire, can fly, and are exceptionally beautiful. They are female; males are called pariizaad. Paris tend to fall in love with mortal men, but since children of Adam (aadmii) are made from dust, these affairs are always problematical. == {14,4}; {43,1}; {153,8}; {162,5}; {223,2}
Parizad (Pari-born) / pariizaad -- In Persian story tradition, these are males of the Pari race; though the term seems sometimes to apply to female Paris too. == {95,1}; {111,7}
Parvanah (Moth) / parvaanah -- The Moth is an archetype of the lover (and mystic), as he helplessly circles the candle and finally, embracing his doom, flies directly into the flame. == {40,6x}; {45,5}; {64,7x}; {75,4}; {81,3}; {166,3}
Pasban (Gatekeeper) / paasbaa;N -- Who else could guard the beloved's house so zealously? See also Darban. == {43,4}; {127,2}; {234,7}
Persian -- About a (mostly) macaronic Persian-Urdu ghazal: {37,2}.
Personifications -- Some especially conspicuous examples of abstract (semi-)personification, often addressed with the vocative ay : 'Desert' in {3,1}; 'Opening' in (8,2}; 'Kindness' in {15,2}; 'Self-adornment' in {15,3}; 'Weeping' in {17,2} and {87,2}; 'Ardor' in {27,1}; 'Suspiciousness' in {34,4}; 'Satisfaction' and 'Arrangement' in {54,3}; 'Sky' in {66,5}; 'Relish of Enchainedness' in {72,1}; 'Incompleteness of the Fire-shedding Breath' in {76,2}; 'the Card-player of Thought' in {81,2}; 'Tyranny-invention' in {101,1}; 'Longing-stride' in {137,1}; 'Crowd/rush of Hopelessness' in {157,4}; 'Laggingness' in {157,5}; 'Pleasure of Freedom' in {158,2}
Prophet -- There is one clear reference to the Prophet Muhammad, though he is not named. == {14,10}
Qais / qais -- The real name of Majnun. == {3,1}; {6,1}; {95,1}; {104,1}; {175,4}; {204,2}
Qasid (Messenger) / qaa.sid -- The messenger who goes back and forth between lover and beloved. See also Namah-bar. == {40,2}; {97,4}; {152,7}; {159,4}; {205,3}
Qiblah / qiblah -- The direction of prayer (toward the Ka'bah in Mecca); or the niche [mi;hraab] in a mosque that points toward it. == {86,5}; {131,1}; {131,8}; {164,3}
Qur'an / quraan -- Ghalib occasionally quotes passages. == {91,6}
Rab (Lord) / rab -- A reference to God, of a slightly less formal kind than 'Allah' would provide. See also Khuda. == {4,8x}; {6,2}; {6,10x}; {14,1}; {39,2}; {43,2}; {44,5x}; {46,4}; {62,2}; {68,1}; {110,3}; {111,10}; {124,7}; {136,2}; {153,3}; {166,5}; {168,3}; {173,6}; {179,3}; {186,1}; {192,3}; {203,1}; {203,3}; {230,10}
Raqib (Rival) / raqiib -- The (true) lover's (false) competitor for the affections of the beloved. See also Ghair. == {6,1}, as 'enemy'; {26,2}; {26,4}; {43,1}; {56,4}; {65,1}; {76,1}; {80,4}, ;hariif; {80,5}; {97,7}; {99,3}; {111,5}; {115,6}; {124,2}; {184,1}; {201,1}; {216,2}; {233,7}, heart vs. eye
Rekhtah / re;xtah -- Ghalib referred to his language variously as 'Rekhtah', 'Urdu', and 'Hindi'. The rigid division into 'Urdu' and 'Hindi' is a late-nineteenth-century innovation. == {36,5}; {36,11}*; {51,4}; {92,7}; {111,1}; {111,2}; {116,10}; {155,3}; {163,1}; {201,1}; {208,1}
Rizvan / ri.zvaa;N -- The keeper of a special garden (also called Rizvan) in paradise. == {10,1}; {31,3}; {35,9}
Ruh ul-Qudus / ruu;h ul-quduus -- The 'Pure Soul', a title of the angel Gabriel. == {91,11}
Saiyad (Hunter)/ .saiyaad -- The beloved can appear as a Hunter. == {71,4}. Often reference is made to her pursuit of the lover as her 'prey' [.said]. == {15,14}, {45,2}; {68,7x}; {72,1}; {101,7}; {232,3}
Samandar (Salamander) / samandar -- For information about this fire-dwelling creature, see the commentary on {38,7}. == {38,7}; {56,6}
Saqi (Cupbearer) / saaqii -- The beautiful, temperamental, coquettish youth who serves the drinkers in the wine-house. == {12,2}; {18,1}; {21,6}; {30,1}; {47,2}; {57,7}; {87,9}; {97,5}; {132,6}; {159,3}; {169,5}; {169,8}; {169,10}; {175,3}; {193,4}; {216,1}; {221,1}; {226,4}; {232,2}
Sauda / saudaa -- Mirza Muhammad Rafi 'Sauda' (1706?-81) was famous for his work in a number of Urdu literary genres, including the ghazal. == {4,8x}; {56,1}; {92,7}; {111,1}; {154,4}; {202,6}; {231,5}
shagird (pupil) / shagird -- The shagird or pupil is defined by his relationship to an Ustad, a master who has agreed to accept him, correct his verses, and generally instruct him in the art of Urdu poetry, especially the ghazal. == {35,8}; {66,8}
Shah (King) / shaah -- In most cases the dates make it clear that the reference is at least probably to Bahadur Shah 'Zafar' (1775-1862; r.1837-57); for some verses the current ruler was his predecessor, Akbar Shah II (r.1806-37). == {14,1}, shaahinshaah ; {110,8}; {120,12}; {121,8}, ;xusrav ; {124,7}, baadshaah ; {125,10}, ;hu.zuur ; {138,6}, farmaa;N-ravaa-e kishvar-e hinduustaan ; {174,9}; {177,8}; {177,9}, shahinshaah ; {178,10}; {180,6}; {181,7}; {218,1}, shahryaar ; {218,2}, baadshaah
Shaikh / shai;x -- The Shaikh is a general emblem of complacent piety. He disdains the lover for ignoring the letter of the law, and the lover disdains him for ignoring its spirit. == {38,6}; {60,8}; {204,7}
Sheftah / navaab mu.s:taf;aa ;xaan sheftah -- Navab Mustafa Khan Sheftah (1806-69), poet and tazkirah writer, was an excellent friend and frequent correspondent of Ghalib's. == {86,9}; {97,13}
Shirin / shiiriin -- In Persian story tradition, the wife of Khusrau who was the beloved of Farhad.== {42,6}; {121,8}; {174,7}
Sikandar (Alexander) / sikandar -- Alexander the Great, the world-conqueror, was misled by Khizr and deprived of the Water of Life. == {215,9}
Sulaiman (Solomon) / sulaimaan -- An ideal type of the divinely guided king; see for example Qur'an 27:15-44, 38:30-40. == {95,1}; {120,12}; {208,2}
Tajammul Husain Khan / tajaamul ;husain ;xaan -- The Navab of Farrukhabad, a potential patron for Ghalib. == {234,9}
Talib Amuli / :taalib aamulii -- A Persian poet (d.1626) who was the poet laureate of Jahangir. == {216,1}
Tur / :tuur -- the mountain on which Hazrat Musa experienced the presence of the Lord. (Quran 7:143; 28:29-30) == {40,4x}; {53,2}; {60,11}; {231,7}
Ustad / ustaad -- The Ustad is a recognized master of the art of poetry; he may or may not choose to accept and train shagirds == {11,3x}*; {15,15}; {34,2}; {36,11}*; {38,6}; {59,1}; {167,6}
Vahshat / ;Gulaam ((alii ;xaan va;hshat -- Ghulam 'Ali Khan 'Vahshat' was a friend and shagird of Ghalib's. == {86,9}
Va'iz (Preacher) / vaa((i:z -- As the voice of orthodoxy, the Preacher is even more irritating to the lover than the Shaikh, and for his part naturally considers the lover a hopeless reprobate. == {60,8}; {92,6}; {163,5}; {219,9}; {229,7}; {231,3}
Yaqub (Jacob) / ya((quub -- The father of Hazrat Yusuf; he wept for his lost son until he ruined his eyes. == {61,2}; {111,1}; {111,4}; [{204,4}]
Yusuf (Joseph) / yuusuf -- Hazrat Yusuf, the Islamic counterpart of the Biblical Joseph, was one of the Prophets; his story is told at length in the Quran, Sura 12. See also Yaqub and Zulaikha. == {10,9}; {36,6}; {61,2}; {111,4}; {111,5}; {202,9}; {204,4}
Zafar / bahaadur shaah :zafar -- The last nominal Mughal emperor, Bahadur Shah 'Zafar' (1775-1862; r. 1837-57) was a ghazal poet himself; he was a willing patron of Zauq, and after Zauq's death a grudging patron of Ghalib. == {49,5}**; {90,5}; {111,1}; {163,1}; {163,2}; {163,9}; {164,14}; {231,9}
Zafar Iqbal / :zafar iqbaal -- Zafar Iqbal (1933-) is a modern Pakistani ghazal poet. == {86,7}
Zahid (Ascetic) / zaahid -- The Ascetic is a renunciant, always preaching the joys of the life to come and deprecating the pleasures of this world; he considers the lover self-indulgent, and the lover considers him shallow. == {10,1}; {85,2}; {133,3}; {196,6}; {203,1}
Zauq / ;zauq -- Shaikh Muhammad Ibrahim 'Zauq' (1788-1854) was a contemporary and rival of Ghalib's; Zauq preceded Ghalib in the prestigious post of royal Ustad, and Bahadur Shah always liked Zauq better. == {7,7}; {15,11}; {19,1}; {22,3}; {34,7}; {38,6}; {46,6}; {77,8}; {78,6}; {91,8}; {97,3}; {151,4}; {202,6}; {231,5}
Zuhuri / :zuhuurii -- A famously complex Persian poet (d.1615), cherished in India and ignored at home, who became the poet laureate of Sultan Ibrahim 'Adil Shah of Bijapur. == {92,7}; {100,9}
Zulaikha / zulai;xaa -- When Yusuf was a slave in Egypt, Zulaikha was his owner's wife; because of her slave's great beauty, she fell in love with him. The whole story is told in the Quran, 12:23-32. == {111,5}; {194,5}; {204,5}