Women’s Ornaments in the Poetry of Khawaja Farid and their Analytical Review

Abstract

Throughout intellectual history, mystics, philosophers, poets, and aestheticians have engaged in discussions about the concept of beauty. The character of beauty is also considered a divine attribute reflecting God’s love for beauty. Consequently, everything created by Allah is beautiful. Human beauty is unparalleled in terms of the appropriateness and attractiveness of his stature, shape and appearance. Allah’s blessing is that the almighty created man’s best creations and created his structure in good manners. Khawaja Farid, a Sufi poet, also shed light on the concept through his poetry, particularly in glorifying female obsession with ornaments. Khawaja Farid belongs to the pantheistic (Wahdat Al-Wajood) spiritual school of thought. Those affiliated with this spiritual school of thought loved every creature of this universe. As a result, they love the creator and have more spiritual intimacy with God. In this article, I aim to answer several questions regarding this theme, including the types of ornaments used, their purpose, the feelings they keep, and their symbolic meaning. Khawaja Farid’s poetry indicates that all ornaments, colours, and forms are used to enhance the beauty of the female form for the beloved. These ornaments are worn on various body parts, such as fingers, wrists, elbows, nose, ears, neck, head, and feet, to gain the romantic approval of the beloved. Female characters in his poetry not only adorn themselves but also try to acquire famous and expensive clothes and ornaments from different places and cultures to increase their attractiveness. These ornaments’ purpose is aesthetic and symbolic, representing the lover’s desire to draw the beloved’s attention and keep their love alive. The feeling of wearing these ornaments arises from the belief that they will enhance the wearer’s beauty and make them more attractive. However, the critical study also finds these ornaments uncomfortable and impractical. Although these beautiful ornaments make life complicated and unbearable, they still practise those traditions to impress the beloved. In overview, the article excavates into the aesthetics of Khawaja Farid’s poetry and the role of ornaments in enhancing the female form’s beauty. The embellishments are worn to gain the beloved’s romantic appreciation and represent the lover’s desire to keep their love active. Although these ornaments are uncomfortable, they are essential for aesthetic and symbolic value. The article provides insight into the romantic aspects of ornamentation in poetry and the hidden sense behind these adornments.