Types of Urdu Poetry

Ghazal

Definition

Ghazal (or Ghazel) (pronounced as "ghuzzle") is an Arabic love poem or love-song. A poetic form consisting of couplets that share a rhyme and a refrain. It is a Persian/Arabic /Urdu/Hindi and now English form of poetry between 5-15 rhyming couplets with or without refrain. (The refrain is the repeating part at the end of each couplet).

Ghazal usually has one concept (like love, death, spring …) and that is usually ambiguous in nature because each couplet is an independent poem in itself. Each couplet in ghazal has the same meter/ syllables that will follow throughout the poem.

There are 19 different kinds of ghazals that can be categorized in three classes of short, medium, and long based on the number of syllables from 6 to 24. In ghazal, the poet usually places his/her alias in the last line and becomes a part of the poem. The rhyming in Ghazal ends like aA bA cA dA eA etc. If you choose to add refrain to your poem, the refrain comes after the rhyming in each couplet. In Ghazal, the first couplet must have the rhyming and the refrain in both halves of the couplet in subsequent couplets, only the second half of the couplet will follow the same scheme of rhyming.

Example

Where are you now? Who lies beneath your spell tonight?
Whom else from rapture’s road will you expel tonight?

Those “Fabrics of Cashmere—” “to make Me beautiful—”
“Trinket”— to gem– “Me to adorn– How– tell”— tonight?

I beg for haven: Prisons, let open your gates–
A refugee from Belief seeks a cell tonight.

God’s vintage loneliness has turned to vinegar–
All the archangels– their wings frozen– fell tonight.

Lord, cried out the idols, Don’t let us be broken
Only we can convert the infidel tonight.

Mughal ceilings, let your mirrored convexities
multiply me at once under your spell tonight.

He’s freed some fire from ice in pity for Heaven.
He’s left open– for God– the doors of Hell tonight.

In the heart’s veined temple, all statues have been smashed
No priest in saffron’s left to toll its knell tonight

God, limit these punishments, there’s still Judgment Day–
I’m a mere sinner, I’m no infidel tonight.

Executioners near the woman at the window.
Damn you, Elijah, I’ll bless Jezebel tonight.

The hunt is over, and I hear the Call to Prayer
fade into that of the wounded gazelle tonight.

My rivals for your love– you’ve invited them all?
This is mere insult, this is no farewell tonight.

And I, Shahid, only am escaped to tell thee–
God sobs in my arms. Call me Ishmael tonight.
—Agha Shahid Ali

Hamd

Definition

A Hamd is a type of poem created to praise Allah. It is an Arabic word used to refer to praise of God alone. Hamd was derived from the Quran, and it is the root word for AlhamdAllah which usually means praise to Allah. These types of poems are written in Persian, Arabic, Punjabi, Urdu or Turkish. They are also recited all over the Muslim world.

Hamd poems are included in the five pillars of Islam. The five pillars are the; Shamada, Salat, Zakat, Fasting {Ramadan} and the Hajj. Muslims prepare Hamd poems to thank God for the blessings of being born as Muslims. They also thank Him for the blessings of health and wealth. In the holy month of Ramadan, Muslims have to fast from sunrise to sunset so that they can remember how blessed they are to have food.

In all aspects, Hamd poems are used by either actions or words. When the Muslims are thanking God for his blessings, they can recite the word “Hamd” or include it in their prayers. These songs are also sung to keep Allah in mind and to stay connected to Him. 

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Madah

Definition

Madah is a type of Urdu poetry that has been written to praise patrons, royalty among others. The word Madah comes from the Arabic word Madh, the Sidhi transformation to mean “praise.”

This is an important part of the cultures of Urdu which got its pinnacle under the British Raj. This is also a performative and recital poetry which has undergone many significant changes. However, its popularity among the masses remains unaltered.

Just like most poems out there, this one is also drafted around a specific style or theme. So this one also has a rhyme and has a meaning behind every word. Sometimes this poem is merely an image or an understandable concrete visual. Madah not only reads well but also has certain modern-day verses. Poets handling this type of poetry usually expand on the topic while they control emotions. 

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Manqabat

Definition

A Manqabat is a type of poem that is written to praise other religious figures. In Sufi Islamic devotional music originating from South Asia (qawwali), Manqabat is sung to music. The most well-known being the Qawwali Manqabats song “Man Kunto Maula.” 

Manqabat is spiritual and has a lot of positive influence on its audience. It is commonly rehearsed in admiration of Ahl al-Bayt and Ali-Ibn-Abi-Talib; who is a son-in-law of Muhammad. The central themes revolve around praise, love, and devotion that moves the hearts of those who listen.

Manqabat also is used in praising any Sufi saints that are sung at ‘Urs,’ ‘Jashan,’ or ‘Jalsa’ sacred meetings and is recited with a little background music to play with it. The poem can be written and recited in more than one language such as Urdu and Arabic. 

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Marsiya

Definition

Marsiya, or elegy, is a type of poem that originated with the Arabs and is written to mourn the dead and eulogize them. The pronunciation of the word Marsiya in Arabic is "Marziya.”Regardless of its background, this type of poetry became more popular in Persia and later in Urdu.

Every poem usually has a purpose and Marsiya, in this case, is no exception. It is more of a sorrow poem and is often used to mourn the loss of a loved one. In its unmixed form, it's written in memory of Husayn ibn Ali, and some martyrs of Karbala.Marsiya is written for a loved one or family member.

It’s more accepted among different domination of Shia Muslims. A single stanza of Marsiya consists of six verses. These verses have a rhyming pattern; XXXXZZ (vertically.) The word ‘Marsiya’ acquired from the Arabic word ‘risa’ which means a great tragedy or wailing for a departed soul. It is full of pathos, love, bravery, emotions, patriotism and final sacrifice. Lastly, it is the only kind of poetry which offers the poet a platform to depict their knowledge and creativity. 

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Masnavi

Definition

A Masnavi is a Persian a type of poetry, originating from the Arabic word Mathnawi, written in rhyming units and which follow a pattern of eleven or sporadically ten syllables without any length limits.

Masnavi is involved with cultures like Kurdish, Arabic, Turkish, Persian and Urdu. Some of these Masnavi have a particular religious connotation in Sufism.  

Persian Masnavi are so strict with some symbols which are 11 and irregularly 10, the first ever Persian masnavi was written in the (4th\10th) century

Arabic masnavi is also known as muzdawidj. It is a rhyme scheme within the ending words of two lines with a specific meter. It is similar to the other three cultic masnavi only difference is this Arabic masnavi follow an aaa/bbb/ccc pattern while others follow aa/bb/cc.

Turkish masnavi began developing in 8th/14th century and was done by Turkish authors who were very creative at first. It is a strong drive, but their scheme and characterized by three types, heroic religion, and romantic

Urdu masnavi are categorized into three early, middle and late. Early masnavi began in the 11th/17th century they were in influenced by literature and Persian masnavi. Middle masnavi became popular in the 12th century while late masnavi came into existence in the 13th/ 19thcentury. 

Example

Poem by Pashang Salehi

The Voice

In a dark night that was darker than my pain,
nothing was there for me except to complain.
I hid myself within emptiness of bed,
nothing was there except, loneliness instead.
I heard a sound that was not like any sound.
Joyously called my name, sought me, and then found.
He told me to get up, wake up, look at dawn,
the darkness of the night soon will be all gone.
The voice told me that morning dawn full of light,
has a power to wash darkness from its night.
The voice asked me that what happened to my youth,
that I’m old and grey with forgotten truth.
I asked him that who are you and what are you?
I don't know you, didn’t see you passing through.
Who are you that suddenly came to my room?
Aren’t you God, and I am, meeting my doom?
I called your name many times when I was young.
I prayed your name day and night with broken tongue.
Now you’re calling my name at this day and age,
not worth talking to you, anger, creates rage.
I am too old and I had too many sins,
Living is only game that nobody wins.
Go and bother another soul beside me,
I am tired of you, you shall never be.
The voice told me that I am out of my mind,
and I have been beguiled, as though I am blind.
He told me that he was with me the whole time.
He let me to fly, in this paradigm.
He told me that he is the end of a start.
He is the love that cries from an aching heart.
He told me that he is water in a spring,
he is that nightingale who so blithely sing.  
He told me that he is bottom and he’s up.
He is grape and he is wine in the same cup.
He told me that he gave feathers for a flight.
He made it so the sun shall set within night.
I asked him that if I see him with my eyes,
I will be like the moon light up the night skies.
He told me to wake up, open up my eyes,
and see what is to see, blessing in disguise.
I did open my eyes saw a glowing bright,
like a drifting shadow in ocean of light.
I saw my son saying wake up! Wake up! Dad,
What is matter with you, are you going mad?

Musaddas

Definition

Musaddas is a type of poem of six verses. Just like any other poem, this one also consists of stanzas. The word “musaddas” has been derived from the Arabic root for 6 “s-d-s”. What makes it different from other Urdu poetry genres is the fact that its rhyme scheme is aaaabb ccccdd eeeeff.

The most famous example of Musaddas poem is the Musaddas of Hali. This is a book-length poem written about the rise and decline of Muslin civilization. The usage, metaphor, and context are key in this type of poem. And since this is an Urdu poem, it will be literally impossible to understand the meaning of different verses if you don’t know the implicit metaphors of this tradition.

For historical reasons, most of the marsiyas (elegies about Karbala Incident) are written in the form of Musaddas. However, this is not universally correct. This poem is best seen as a distinct genre that’s used for long poems that contain topical content.

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Naat

Definition

Naat is a type of poem that is written to praise and ask for intercession from the Islamic prophet Muhammad. Being a religious poem, it describes and remembers the beautiful attributes that were done by the prophet during his time and is mainly performed in musical form.

The poem is divided into two categories; dervish lodge poems and mosque poems. The lyrics are made by selection of specific verses that are written by Sufi poets and are found in three languages: Arabic, Turkish and Persian. This poem is basically recited after the Quran is read before Friday and Eid prayers. It is recited by Na’than, this is not a name of a person but it’s the title of reciter in Islam.

Naat is a free flow kind of poem that has no guided rules on stanzas, and lines as the verses are picked directly from the Sufi poetry. This, therefore, gives the poet the liberty to use various meters and also rhyme scheme that will bring the flow of the poem.

During the presentation of this poem, it is recited in dervish lodge and this is done at the beginning of dhikr or maybe between different dhikr chants. There are various examples of the composition that are chanted by a single person and are usually extemporaneously. This is by following a slow rhythm, we find that the Nat has a more aesthetic and dignified style compared to the hymns. 

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Nazm

Definition

A Nazm is a type of poem with a common theme, often about the human existence and written in the Urdu language, which sees much use in not just Pakistan but also Northern India.

Each Nazm has a central theme that runs throughout the entire poem, meaning that its individual lines and couplets cannot be interpreted on their own. This is in contrast to another popular type of Urdu poetry called the ghazal, which can have independent verses with independent meanings of their own. Besides this restriction, the Nazm tends to be much less constrained than its counterpart in the ghazal. For example, the Nazm can cover a wide range of topics, whereas the ghazal has a strong focus on the love of various sorts. Likewise, the Nazm can see enormous variation in its length, with some examples being either much shorter or much longer than others. Finally, there are the no rules on either the length of the lines or whether specific syllables have to rhyme with one another because the writer of the Nazm is the one who decides how they want to write it. 

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Qasida

Definition

Example

Salvation… by Pashang Salehi

The nightingale was singing to the moonlight.

The moonlight was showing off all of its bright.

He was singing as though he knows the right path,

Showing everybody how to do it right.

Suddenly, heard a sound like his, but so sad.

So much sadness, so much pain, and full of plight.

The song was all about hardship full of pain,

so much pain and puzzlement, an awful fright.

The Nightingale startled as though, he is caged!

He thought that he's the one singing, it just might.

The sad song was coming from a house nearby,

The house was filled with pain, chills, of endless night.

He flew there to see who is the hidden bait?

Who is that mystery singer that excite?

He saw there is a cage, caged in, Canary.

Sitting crying and waiting, try to recite.

The nightingale asked him why there is a cage.

What is wrong with the freedom that you ignite?

You should fly out of cage wonder like a fool.

Go under shades of wind, swim in the daylight.

Go and bathe in the dew while journey unfolds,

and taste sweet taste of love mixed with the twilight.

Break out of the cage, stretch your burnings wings.

In this realm of dreams, fly in highest height.

Canary said, my soul, is chained to this cage.

The cage is my prison, my world, and eyesight.

You see all the colors, chasing the rainbows.

My world is just the cage just black and just white.

I don't see what is there, further than this cage.

I just fly in within, finding my insight.

You need the sun and moon to see what is there.

My world can shine only, with just candlelight.

You mentioned, bathing in dew and drinking love,

I found all in within, no more appetite.

I heard the sun and moon are there to shine love,

I am exiled from those, dreaming to see light.

Go to "Haloo" and ask him how could it be?

he will tell you the story and say goodnight.

If you wanted to find a path to your soul,

send him a line, he will send you an invite.

Rubaiyat

Definition

A Rubaiyat is a type of poem that utilizes quatrains in the execution of its expression. A Rubaiyat is (the plural form of rubai) a Persian created concept of poetry, composed using these quatrains. Interestingly, the word "Rubaiyat" is the plural form of the word "Ruba" (which means four). To understand the Rubai, you must first know your way around a quatrain. A quatrain is, as one might expect, a group made up of four parts. Derived from the French word, "quatre" (which was originally derived from the Latin word "Quattuor"), this word has been in use since the sixteenth century. More specifically, in relation to poetry, it is composed of four lines of text. Each rubai can contain as many or as few four-line paragraphs (quatrains) as the writer wishes. These "poetic paragraphs" are called stanzas.

Within each stanza of a poem, you will find a rhyme. With rubai, there is a specified pattern by which these quatrains must rhyme. This is called the meter. The rhymes must occur as follows: AA, bA

An example would be:

I came to teach you to rhyme (A)
and pen verses, so sublime (A)
if you listen close, to me (b)
you'll pick it up in no time (A)

In short, to write a proper rubai, the stanzas of your piece must follow the AA, bA meter. There is no room for error, in this detail. A rubaiyat contains stanzas of four lines of verse. Each stanza will have lines 1,2, and 4 rhyming. Line 3 is free, and does NOT rhyme with the other lines of verse. 

Example

These are some of the favorite quatrains from the Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyam translated by Edward Fitzgerald:

Wake! For the Sun who scattered into flight
The Stars before him from the Field of Night,
Drives Night along with them from Heaven and Strikes
The Sultan's Turret with a Shaft of Light.
[Stanza 1]

Come, fill the Cup, and in the fire of Spring
The Winter garment of Repentance fling;
The Bird of Time has but a little way
To fly - and Lo! the Bird is on the Wing.
[Stanza 7, 1st edition]

A Book of Verses underneath the Bough,
A Jug of Wine, a Loaf of Bread -- and Thou
Beside me singing in the Wilderness --
Oh, Wilderness were Paradise enow!
[Stanza 12]

The Moving Finger writes; and having writ,
Moves on: nor all your Piety nor Wit
Shall lure it back to cancel half a Line,
Nor all your Tears wash out a Word of it.
[Stanza 71]

Salaam

Definition

A Salaam poem is a type of poem that is essentially a salutory poem in praise and celebration of the prophet. This type of poem is usually recited standing up. This type of poem gets it's name from it's Arabic meaning, as a salaam is a greeting in Arabic. Because of this, a salaam poem is a praise, a salute, a greeting and often a celebration of the holy prophet.

Many people who live in middle eastern countries consider this style of poem to be a very important one. However, many other countries of the world have little idea what a salaam poem is, and therefore one is less likely to find this type of poem in the western world. This type of poem is usually medium to long length and is often considered a very personal, important and celebrated salutation the prophet. Due to this, many Arabic poets and their readers take this style of poetry very seriously. 

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Seharaa

Definition

A Seharaa is a type of poem, also known as a Sehra, that is strictly created for nikah (In Islamic law, marriage is called nikah). At Muslim weddings, there is always a poem or song that is recited to honor the groom, and it is what is called the Seharaa or Sehra. The sisters of the groom usually perform this poem. The Seharaa poem is part of the Urdu Poetry which are poems that have roots from South Asia Arabic speaking countries. The features of the Seharaa are not complicated as one might be led to believe. First, the end of each line must rhyme with the other lines. Second, the lines must consist of the same length. Last but not least, the Seharaa’s are entertaining and exciting to listen to, and almost all the Muslim weddings from the region mentioned earlier have a Seharaa performed at them. 

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Vaasokht

Definition

A Vaasokht is a type of Urdu poem that illustrates the displeasure that a person has with their lover. In addition to that, the persona also argues that his love for the woman is what adds to her worth and value. In the case that the lover fails to change her ways, then the persona will stop loving her, and she will be worthless.

In ancient time, the format of the Vaasokht was that it was made up of eight lines. The first six lines were in a rhyming sequence with the last two lines being having their own set of different rhymes. However, one of the pioneers of Urdu poetry by the name of Mir Taqi Mir changes the format to be as the same of the musaddas which are also a type of poem. The present-day Vaasokht is made up of a total of six rhyming lines. 

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