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