Meaning of

khwahish-e-nafs

ख़्वाहिश-ए-नफ़्स • خواہش نفس

desire of the self; longing of the soul

स्वयं की इच्छा; आत्मा की लालसा

خود کی خواہش; روح کی تمنا

Arabic

In its original sense, 'khwahish-e-nafs' refers to the deep-seated desires that reside within one's soul. Poetry has expanded this to explore the tension between worldly desires and spiritual aspirations, often portraying it as a struggle between the heart and the mind.

Poets often use 'khwahish-e-nafs' to depict the inner conflict of desires. It is a metaphor for the eternal struggle between material and spiritual pursuits. The term evokes imagery of a soul torn between earthly pleasures and higher ideals.

In poetry, 'khwahish-e-nafs' becomes a mirror reflecting the human condition, caught between the ephemeral and the eternal.