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.
Read more about this topic: Urdu
Famous quotes containing the word character:
“There is no character, howsoever good and fine, but it can be destroyed by ridicule, howsoever poor and witless. Observe the ass, for instance: his character is about perfect, he is the choicest spirit among all the humbler animals, yet see what ridicule has brought him to. Instead of feeling complimented when we are called an ass, we are left in doubt.”
—Mark Twain [Samuel Langhorne Clemens] (1835–1910)