Urdu - Non-secular Character of Urdu

Non-secular Character of Urdu

Urdu has some peculiar characteristics where use of certain words is reserved for Muslims. Shaheed (شہید ) is essentially meant to be used for Muslim martyrs and marhoom (مرحوم ) (meaning in position of mercy - Urdu equivalent of "late") is to be used only before Muslim names. On the other hand, the word used to describe a dead non-Muslim is anjahani (آنجہانی), a Persian coinage and it means the deceased person belongs to the other world. If somebody describes a dead Muslim as anjahani, that person is most likely to be rebuked.