The term ḥubb possesses the term khamr (wine) as a synonym, and khamr, in turn, was referred to as Umm Laylā by the Arabs. Laylā, in this context, refers to ecstasy and intoxication, and umm is present for it induces a state of ecstasy, begetting it as a mother begets a child. Love, likewise, intoxicates the lover, and, in cases, overwhelms and maddens him, as was the case with Majnūn, whose very name refers to one who has been maddened; in this case, by love. Other terms used for the state — ḥuzn, sadam, kamad, and shawq, among others — all have similar implications, in that they portray the emotions experienced by lovers upon separation. Continue reading Exploring Love Through Poetry: The Question of Happiness