Definition

1. Noun:
   • A Muslim council chamber or law court: A room or hall used for official meetings, consultations, or judicial proceedings in a Muslim context.
   • A collection of Persian or Arabic poems: A volume of poetry, typically the collected works of a single poet, from the Persian or Arabic literary tradition.
   • A Muslim council of state: An advisory or administrative body in a Muslim government.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The elders gathered in the diwan to discuss the village dispute.
  • The scholar's diwan contains his finest ghazals and odes.
  • The sultan convened his diwan to deliberate on matters of trade.

Advanced Usage

• Historical/Literary Context: The term is often used in historical texts about Islamic governance or classical literature.
  • The poet's complete diwan was translated into several European languages.

Variants and Related Words

• Divan (noun): An alternative, more common spelling in English for all the same meanings. It can also refer to a long, low sofa without a back or arms, often used for reclining, which is a separate meaning derived from the council chamber's seating.
  • He reclined on the divan while reading the poetry divan.

Synonyms

• Council chamber: For the first meaning (meeting room).
• Anthology, collected works: For the second meaning (poetry collection).
• Cabinet, advisory council: For the third meaning (council of state).

Related Idioms or Phrases

• To hold a diwan: To convene an official council meeting.
  • The caliph would hold a diwan every week to hear petitions.

Noun

1. a Muslim council chamber or law court
2. a collection of Persian or Arabic poems (usually by one author)
3. a Muslim council of state