بالقصد is an adverbial phrase. ب (bi) is an Arabic preposition meaning "with." القصد (al qasd) is an Arabic noun meaning intention, purpose, aim. The phrase is used in Arabic, Persian, and Urdu. It is invariable. It modifies verbs. "اس نے بالقصد یہ کہا" (He said this intentionally). "بالقصد جھوٹ بولنا" (to lie intentionally). "بالقصد نقصان پہنچانا" (to cause harm intentionally). The phrase is used in legal, ethical, and everyday contexts.
Correct Spelling & Pronunciation:
بالقصد with full diacritics is written as: بالْقَصْد
ب پر زبر ( َ ) ہے (بَ)۔
ا ساکن ہے (ا)۔
ل ساکن ہے (ل)۔
ق پر زبر ( َ ) ہے (قَ)۔
ص ساکن ہے (ص)۔
د ساکن ہے (د)۔
تلفظ: Bil qasd. "Bil" has a short "bi" and a soft "l." "Qasd" has a short "qa" (guttural), a soft "s" (emphatic), and a soft "d." So it is bil + qasd. The stress falls on the first syllable of "bil" (BIL) and the only syllable of "qasd" (QASD).
Now begin the main body of the entry.
The word بالقصد separates accident from crime. It divides carelessness from cruelty. When an act is done بالقصد, the doer cannot claim ignorance. They cannot say, "I did not mean it." They meant it. They chose it. They are responsible. The word is a portal to moral and legal judgment. It asks the question: did you intend to do that? If yes, then بالقصد. If no, then "بالاتفاق" (accidentally). The difference can be the difference between a fine and a prison sentence, between forgiveness and blame.
Let us explore the meaning of قصد (qasd). قصد comes from the Arabic root "ق ص د" (q s d), meaning to intend, to aim for, to purpose. قصد is the intention, the aim, the purpose. A person who has "قصد" is not acting randomly. They are acting with a goal.
The phrase بالقصد is used in legal Urdu. In criminal law, "قصد" (intent) is a key element of a crime. "بالقصد قتل" (intentional murder) is distinguished from "غیر ارادی قتل" (unintentional manslaughter). "بالقصد چوری" (intentional theft). The presence of قصد determines the severity of the punishment. "بالقصد جرم" (intentional crime).
In everyday conversation, people use the phrase to clarify. "کیا تم نے بالقصد ایسا کیا؟" (Did you do this intentionally?). "نہیں، یہ غلطی سے ہو گیا" (No, it happened by mistake). The phrase is used in arguments, in apologies, in accusations.
In moral discourse, acting بالقصد for good is praised. "اس نے بالقصد غریب کی مدد کی" (He intentionally helped the poor). "بالقصد سچ بولنا" (to intentionally speak the truth). Doing good deliberately is a virtue. Acting بالقصد for evil is condemned. "اس نے بالقصد اس کی بے عزتی کی" (He intentionally disrespected him). The phrase is a moral qualifier.
In psychology, "بالقصد رویہ" (intentional behavior) is contrasted with "غیر ارادی رویہ" (unintentional behavior). The study of intention is central to psychology. The phrase is used in academic contexts.
The phrase is often used with the negative. "بالقصد نہیں کیا" (I did not do it intentionally). "بالقصد نہیں تھا" (It was not intentional). This is a common defense.
The noun form is "قصد" (qasd). "اس کا قصد یہ تھا" (His intention was this). "قصداً" (qasdan) is another adverb meaning intentionally, similar to بالقصد.
From a grammatical perspective, بالقصد is an adverbial phrase. It modifies verbs. It can be placed before or after the verb. "بالقصد اس نے جھوٹ بولا" (He lied intentionally). "اس نے بالقصد جھوٹ بولا" (He intentionally lied). It is invariable.
Synonyms (Urdu): قصداً (qasdan), ارادی طور پر (iraadi tor par), جان بوجھ کر (jaan boojh kar), سوچ سمجھ کر (soch samajh kar), عمداً (amdan)
Synonyms (English): Intentionally, deliberately, on purpose, willfully, knowingly, consciously, with intent
Antonyms (Urdu): بالاتفاق (bil ittifaaq), اتفاقاً (ittifaaqan), غلطی سے (ghalti se), نادانستہ (nadaanistah), غیر ارادی طور پر (ghair iraadi tor par)
Antonyms (English): Accidentally, unintentionally, by mistake, inadvertently, involuntarily
Etymology:
ب is the Arabic preposition "bi" meaning with. القصد is the Arabic definite noun "al qasd" meaning the intention. The phrase is pure Arabic. It entered Urdu through Persian. It is a formal and legal term.
Metaphorical Use:
The phrase is not used metaphorically. It is a literal description of intentionality.
Cultural Significance:
In South Asian cultures, intentions matter. An act done بالقصد is judged more harshly than an accident. The phrase is used in families, in courts, in schools. It teaches responsibility. It says, "You are accountable for what you intend."
Social and Emotional Impact:
To be accused of acting بالقصد is to be accused of malice. The emotional impact is negative. The accused may feel defensive. The speaker is expressing that the act was not a mistake. It was a choice. The phrase escalates conflict.
Word Associations: قصد (intention), ارادہ (will), جان بوجھ کر (deliberately), اتفاق (accident), غلطی (mistake), جرم (crime), سزا (punishment), ذمہ داری (responsibility), نیت (intent)
Polarity: Neutral. The polarity comes from the action.
Register: Formal to neutral. The phrase is used in legal, ethical, and everyday contexts.
Pragmatic Sense: To indicate that an action was done with conscious intention, purpose, or design.
Formality: Medium. The phrase is formal but common.
Usage Contexts:
Legal: Determining criminal intent.
Everyday Conversation: Clarifying whether an act was accidental.
Moral Discourse: Praising or condemning intentional acts.
Psychology: Describing intentional behavior.
Education: Teaching about responsibility.
Evolution in Use:
The phrase بالقصد has been used for centuries. Its meaning has not changed. It remains a key term in legal and ethical discussions.
Example Sentences:
اس نے بالقصد یہ غلطی کی، اتفاقاً نہیں۔
He made this mistake intentionally, not accidentally.
بالقصد جھوٹ بولنا ایک بڑا گناہ ہے۔
Lying intentionally is a major sin.
کیا تم نے بالقصد اس کا دل توڑا؟۔
Did you break his heart intentionally?
اس نے بالقصد مجھے تکلیف پہنچانے کی کوشش کی۔
He tried to cause me pain intentionally.
بالقصد نیکی کرنا بھی نیکی ہے، لیکن بہتر ہے کہ عادت بن جائے۔
Doing good intentionally is also good, but it is better if it becomes a habit.
عدالت نے اس کے فعل کو بالقصد قرار دیا۔
The court declared his act to be intentional.
Poetic and Literary Touch:
In Urdu poetry, the word بالقصد is not common. Poets write about the beloved's unintentional cruelty or intentional indifference. The phrase might appear in a poem about betrayal. "وہ بالقصد مجھ سے دور گیا" (He went away from me intentionally). The phrase adds weight to the accusation.
Summary:
بالقصد is an Urdu adverbial phrase meaning intentionally, deliberately, on purpose, or willfully. It is derived from the Arabic words "ب" (with) and "القصد" (the intention). The phrase is used in legal, ethical, psychological, and everyday contexts to indicate that an action was done with conscious intent. It has a neutral polarity and a medium level of formality. Understanding بالقصد is essential for discussing intention, responsibility, and the distinction between accident and purpose in Urdu.
Cross Language Comparison:
In Hindi, the same phrase बिल कसद (bil qasd) exists and is used similarly. Hindi speakers may also use जानबूझकर (jaanboojhkar) from Persian. In Persian, the equivalent is بالقصد (bel qasd). In Arabic, the equivalent is بالقصد (bil qasd). In English, "intentionally" is the direct equivalent. The English word is also common. The Urdu phrase is directly parallel to the Arabic and Persian.