Poetry has many ways of expressing emotions, ideas, and experiences, and in Urdu, this diversity is especially rich. Not all poems follow the same structure, some have strict rules, while others flow freely. Some are meant to be sung, while others are written to make a point.

In Urdu literature, different poetic forms have developed over time, each serving a distinct purpose. Whether it’s the lyrical couplets of a ghazal, the representation of ideas through nazm, or the story telling of masnavi, every form brings something unique to the table. Let’s take a look at some of these forms and how they shape the beauty of Urdu poetry.

Ghazal

Ghazal is an Arabic word that means "conversing with the beloved." It developed in Persia in the 10th century from the Arabic verse form qasida. A Qasida (Ballad) is a long poem in Urdu, Persian or Arabic that is usually written in praise of kings, princes or the poet's patron.

The ghazal made its way to the Indian subcontinent in the 12th century, introduced by Sufi mystics and the sultanates, flourishing in both Persian and later in Urdu. Ameer Khusrau is credited with composing the first ghazal in Urdu, titled "ze-haal-e-miskin.”

Ghazal is a formalist poetic form with strict rules that must be followed to be considered a Ghazal. It consists of a series of independent couplets connected only by elements such as meter (Bahr), Qaafiya, and Radeef. These elements are the only binding agents that hold the composition together, and adherence to them is mandatory. Traditionally, a Ghazal contains a minimum of 5 couplets and goes up to 15, but typically, most Ghazals have around seven couplets.

Let’s look at the components of a Ghazal briefly:

Misra: Each line of a couplet is known as Misra. The first line is known as Misra-e-Oola, while the second line is known as the Misra-e-Saani.

Matla: It is the first couplet of a Ghazal and employs Qafiya and Radeef in both lines. Qafiya and Radeef are only employed in the second line in the rest of the couplets.

Radeef: The repeated words at the end are referred to as Radeef Since Ghazals don't have a title, Ghazals are traditionally referenced and indexed using the radeef.

Qaafiya: The rhyming word that appears just before the Radeef is known as Qaafiya. Example: be-qarari, taari, guzari, bhari, tumhari.

Nazm

A Nazm is a well-organized and logically evolving poem with a central theme, where each verse is intricately related to the other. It can be composed in rhymed, unrhymed, or even free verse. It gained popularity in the 20th century with the arrival of progressive poets like Meera-Ji, Akhtar-ul-Iman and Nuun Meem Rashid, who only composed Nazms instead of Ghazals.
Nazms usually have a title and are the most comparable form to modern English poems. Here’s a nazm by Akhtarul Iman for instance:

is bhare shahr mein koi aisa nahin

jo mujhe rah chalte ko pahchan le

aur aawaz de o be o sar-phire

donon ek dusre se lipat kar wahin

gird-o-pesh aur mahaul ko bhool kar

gaaliyan den hansen hatha-paai karen

paas ke ped ki chhanw mein baith kar

ghanton ek dusre ki sunen aur kahen

aur is nek roohon ke bazar mein

meri ye qimti be-baha zindagi

ek din ke liye apna rukh mod le

Tabdili - Akhtarul Iman

Qita

It is a collection of two or more couplets that are inter-connected and require each other to convey their full meaning. Qita can also be part of a Ghazal.

kal panw ek kasa-e-sar par jo aa gaya

yaksar wo ustukhwan shikaston se choor tha

kahne laga ki dekh ke chal rah be-khabar

main bhi kabhu kisu ka sar-e-pur-ghuroor tha 

Mir Taqi Mir

Qasida

It is a poem praising a king, noble person, or benefactor. It starts with a rhyming couplet, similar to a ghazal, and this rhyme is repeated in the second line of each following verse. A Qasida can be as long as 50 lines.

Marsiya

The term 'Marsiya' originates from the Arabic word 'Risa,' signifying a profound tragedy or lamentation for a departed soul. It serves as an elegy, a poetic expression of mourning, and has become closely linked with the tragedy of Karbala. Typically, Marsiya comprises six-line units called Musaddas, featuring a rhyming quatrain followed by a couplet with a different rhyme. Rekhta has published a comprehensive blog on the Components of Marsiya, providing detailed explanations of each element. Six-line verses in an AA, AA and BB rhyme scheme characterize Marsiya.

dasht-e-wigha mein nur-e-khuda ka zuhoor hai

zarron mein raushni-e-tajalli-e-toor hai

ik aaftab-e-rukh ki ziya door door hai

koson zameen aks se dariya-e-noor hai

allah-re husn tabqa-e-ambar-sarisht ka

maidan-e-karbala hai namuna bahisht ka

Meer Anees

Masnawi

Much longer than the ghazal, a long narrative poem embodies religious, romantic or didactic stories. It is written in rhyming couplets, each with a different rhyme.Some famous Masnawis in Urdu are Gulzaar-e-Naseem by Pandit Daya Shankar Naseem Lakhnawi, Sehrul Bayan by Meer Hasan etc.

Rubaii

A self-sufficient quatrain, rhyming (a, a, b, a) and dealing generally with a single idea is known as a Rubai. Though rare, some Rubai's also employ (a, a, a, a) rhyming scheme.

Here’s an example of Akbar Allahabadi’s rubaaii:

har ek se suna naya fasana hum ne

dekha duniya mein ek zamana hum ne

awwal ye tha ki waqfiyat pe tha naaz

aakhir ye khula ki kuchh na jaana hum ne

So these are some of the major forms present in Urdu poetry, each with its own style and purpose. Whether it’s the heartfelt Ghazal, the clear and focused Nazm, or the long stories told in Masnavi, every form brings its own beauty.