Urdu poetry (Urdu: ?????? ??????? Urdu S_h_a?

iri) is a rich tradition of poetry and

has many different forms. Many of the poetic forms and structures are of Arabic
origin. Today, it is an important part of the cultures of South Asia. Meer, Dard,
Ghalib, Anees, Daag Dehlvi, Dabeer, Iqbal, Zauq, Josh, Akbar, Jigar, Faiz, Firaq,
Shakeb Jalali, Ahmad Nadeem Qasmi, Shair, Mohsin, Faraz and Faizi are among the
greatest poets of Urdu. The language of Urdu got its pinnacle under the British
Raj, and it received official status. All famous writers of Urdu language including
Ghalib and Iqbal were given British scholarships.[1] Following the Partition of
India in 1947, it found major poets and scholars were divided along the
nationalistic lines. However, Urdu poetry is cherished in both the nations. Both
the Muslims and Hindus from across the border continue the tradition.

Its fundamentally a performative poetry and its recital, sometimes impromptu, is

held in Mushairas (poetic expositions). Although its tarannum saaz (singing aspect)
has undergone major changes in recent decades, its popularity among the masses
remains unaltered. Mushairas are today held in metropolitan areas worldwide because
of cultural influence of South Asian diaspora. Ghazal singing and Qawwali are also
important expository forms of Urdu poetry. Bollywood movies have a major part in
popularising Urdu poetry with younger generations.

Contents [hide]
1 Forms of Urdu poetry
2 Collection forms of Urdu poetry
3 Formation
4 Genres
5 Pen names (Takhallus)
6 Scripts used in poetry
6.1 Example of Urdu Ghazal
7 See also
8 References
Forms of Urdu poetry[edit]
The principal forms of Urdu poetry are:[2]

Ghazal, is a set of two liner couplets, which strictly should end with the same
rhyme and should be within one of the predefined meters of Ghazals. There has to be
minimum of five couplets to form a Ghazal. Couplets may or may not have same
thought. It is one of the most difficult forms of poetry as there are many strict
parameters that one needs to abide by while writing Ghazal. It is important to
think about the topic as well as the theme of a Ghazal before starting to write it.
The first line of a Ghazal must include a Refrain, which is a word or a phrase that
can be easily fitted into the other couplets. Each couplet of a Ghazal is known as
Sher, which forms a Shayari. Thus, it means that different Shayaris together form a
Ghazal.[3]
Hamd is a poem in praise of Allah. The word "hamd" is derived from the Qur'an, its
English translation is "Praise".
Manqabat is a Sufi devotional poem, in praise of Ali ibn Abi Talib, the son-in-law
of Muhammad, or of any Sufi saint.
Marsiya is an elegy typically composed about the death of Hasan, Husain, or their
relatives. Each stanza has six lines, with the rhyme scheme aaaabb.[2] The famous
marsia writers who inherited the tradition of Mir Anis among his successive
generations are Mir Nawab Ali 'Munis', Dulaha Sahab 'Uruj', Syed Mohammed Mohsin
(Jaunpuri), Mustafa Meerza urf Piyare Sahab 'Rasheed', Syed Muhammad Mirza Uns, Ali
Nawab 'Qadeem', Syed Sajjad Hussain "Shadeed" Lucknavi, Allama, Dr.Syed Ali Imam
Zaidi, "Gauher" Luckhnavi the great grandson of Mir Babber Ali Anis, Syed Karrar
Hyder (Jaunpuri) and Syed Yadullah Haider (son of Syed Karrar Hyder).
Masnavi is a poem written in couplets in bacchic tetrameter with an iambus for last
foot. The topic is often romance.[2] Mir Taqi Mir and Sauda wrote some of this
kind. The Religious masnavi History of Islam (Tarikh-e-Islam Az Quran) written by
Dr. Syed Ali Imam Zaidi Gauher Lucknavi.
Na`at is a poetry that specifically praises the Islamic prophet Muhammad.
Nazm Urdu nazm is a major part of Urdu poetry. From Nazeer Akarabadi, Iqbal, Josh,
Firaq, Akhtarul Iman to down the line Noon Meem Rashid, Faiz, Ali Sardar Jafri and
Kaifi Azmi. They have covered common life, philosophical thinking, national issues
and the precarious predecament of individual human being.As a distinct form of Nazm
many Urdu poets influenced by English and other European poets took to writing
sonnets in Urdu language.[4] Azmatullah Khan (1887-1923) is believed to have
introduced this format to Urdu Literature.[5] The other renowned Urdu poets who
wrote sonnets were Akhtar Junagarhi, Akhtar Sheerani, Noon Meem Rashid, Zia
Fatehabadi, Salaam Machhalishahari and Wazir Agha.
Qasida, usually an ode to a benefactor, a satire, or an account of an event. It
uses the same rhyme system as the ghazal, but is usually longer.[2]
Qawwali, is a form of Urdu poetry read along with devotional music, A Qawwali is
almost always dedicated to particular Sufi.
Ruba'i, is a poetry style, the Arabic term for "quatrain". The plural form of the
word, ruba?iyat, often anglicised rubaiyat, is used to describe a collection of
such quatrains.
Shayari, a musical form of Urdu poetry, allows a person to express deep feelings
through words. It lets one explain sentiments in all their forms through rhythmic
words. In the Urdu and Hindi languages, Shayari, also known as poetry, consists of
couplets, or Sher.[6]
Tazkira is a biographical anthology of poetry.[2]