Chandigarh, Nov 3: Love has long held a central place but few concepts have captured its depth like Ishq-e-Majazi and Ishq-e-Haqeeqi. Though both terms come from the same root — ishq, meaning deep or passionate love — they describe very different journeys of the heart.
Ishq-e-Majazi, often translated as “worldly” or “earthly love,” refers to affection and attachment between human beings. It represents the emotions, beauty, and devotion one feels for another person, often celebrated in classical ghazals and romantic poetry. Poets have used this idea to explore the intensity of love, the pain of separation, and the longing that defines human connection.
Ishq-e-Haqeeqi, meaning “true” or “ultimate love,” is described in Sufi philosophy as love directed toward the Divine. It reflects the soul’s desire to connect with its Creator and is considered a higher, spiritual form of love that transcends human attachment. Sufi thinkers wrote that such love purifies the heart and brings peace through remembrance, faith, and surrender.
While the two terms describe different kinds of love, they are often seen as part of a single continuum — one beginning with human emotion and leading toward spiritual understanding. In poetry and philosophy, both Ishq-e-Majazi and Ishq-e-Haqeeqi are viewed as powerful forces that transform the heart and expand the capacity to feel compassion, humility, and devotion.
Today, these concepts continue to appear in art, literature, and popular culture — not only as spiritual ideals, but as reflections of how love, in all its forms, remains central to human experience.
