| Although Urdu Poetry is a very intricate | | | | poem as a sort of signature. The last couplet |
| subject that manifests itself in many | | | | of a ghazal that contains the takhallus is |
| different forms, there are certain basic | | | | called the "maqta". |
| ingredients that characterize every Urdu | | | | |
| poem. We will now take a look at how a basic | | | | Qafiya. The "qafiya" refers to the rhyming |
| Urdu poem is structured and familiarize | | | | pattern that is used just before the radeef |
| ourselves with some of its basic ingredients. | | | | at the end of every couplet. The qafiya is |
| | | | necessary to the function of every Urdu poem, |
| In Urdu Poetry, a poem usually takes the form | | | | even when the other rules are not adhered to. |
| of a ghazal. A ghazal is a collection of | | | | |
| multiple couplets, called "ashaar", that | | | | Now that you know what each of the five terms |
| adhere to the rules of "bahar", "radeef", | | | | refer to, we turn our attention to how they |
| "matla", "maqta", and "qafiya". Each couplet, | | | | govern an Urdu poem's structure. First, every |
| or "sher" expresses a single thought and can | | | | couplet of a ghazal will have a completely |
| stand alone. To understand how the typical | | | | different theme from all the other couplets |
| Urdu poem is structured, it is vital that you | | | | in the same ghazal. Second, all the couplets |
| understand what each of these five terms | | | | of a ghazal must have the same bahar. Every |
| refer to. | | | | single couplet in a ghazal must also end in |
| | | | the same radeef and use the same qafiya. |
| Bahar. In Urdu Poetry, "bahar" refers to the | | | | Every Urdu poem has a matla but some may not |
| meter, or length, of a couplet. Each line of | | | | have a maqta. |
| a couplet must have the same bahar as the | | | | |
| other. In addition, every single couplet in a | | | | Like with most rules, there are also a number |
| ghazal must have the same bahar. Urdu Poetry | | | | of exceptions: |
| uses 19 different types of bahar which can be | | | | |
| classified into short, medium, and long | | | | • There are some ghazals that do not |
| meters. | | | | contain radeef. |
| | | | |
| Radeef. Radeef in Urdu Poetry refers to the | | | | • Sometimes, the ashaar of a ghazal |
| same word or phrase that is repeated at the | | | | will have the same theme. |
| end of the second line of every couplet. Keep | | | | |
| in mind that the radeef are always the exact, | | | | • Modern Urdu Poetry is much less |
| same words for every ghazal. | | | | restrictive with the use of bahar than in the |
| | | | past. |
| Matla. Matla in Urdu Poetry refers to the | | | | |
| first couplet in a ghazal. Both lines of a | | | | If you are feeling a little confused, know |
| ghazal's matla must end in the radeef. | | | | that that is absolutely normal. It is |
| | | | completely understandable if you don't get it |
| Maqta. Traditionally, poets of Urdu Poetry | | | | the first time you read it. Take a deep |
| usually use pen names which are called | | | | breath a try to slowly digest the |
| Takhallus. The takhallus is usually | | | | information. |
| incorporated into the last couplet of the | | | | |