Urdu Poetry or Shaayaree, essentially comprises couplet, or Sher. The plural for Sher is Ashaar. The form ghazal is a collection of mulitiple ashaar - each of which should convey a complete thought without any reference to other shayari of the same ghazal. In fact, though belonging to the same ghazal, the different ashaar therein can have completely different meaning and tone relative to one another.
Shayari is a unique and ecstatic poetic language used to express feelings and desires in very less and heart touching words. It is basically expression of ones feelings and desire.
Essential Shaayree vocabulary:
1 Sher
2 Bait-ul-Ghazal
3 Urdu Ghazal
4 Fard
5 Hamd
6 Hijv
7 Matla
8 Madah
9 Manqabat
10 Maqta
11 Masnawi
12 Matla
13 Misra
14 Munajat
15 Musaddas
16 Naat
17 Nazm
18 Qafia
19 Qasida
20 Qat'a
21 Radeef
22 Ruba'i
23 Salam
24 Sehra
25 Shehr Ashob
26 Tah-Tul-Lafz
27 Takhallus
28 Wasokht
29 Geet
30 Qawwali
1.Sher-
(Couplet). It consists of two lines (misra); first line is called 'misra-e-oola' and the second is called 'MISRA-E-SANI'. Each verse embodies a single thought or subject (sing): Sher, Shero, Shayari, Shyari, Shayri.
2-Bait-ul-Ghazal---
The best Sher in a Ghazal.
Example- a Shēr (couplet by poet Majrooh Sultanpuri as given below.
mai.N akelā hī chalā thā zānīb-ē-manzīl magar lōg sāth ātē gayē aur kāravā banatā gayā
(I started all alone towards the goal but people kept joining and it began to turn into a caravan)
3-Urdu Ghazal
The Ghazal is an ode. The literal meaning of the word "ghazal" is "to converse with the beloved". Etymologically, it comes from the Arabic word Ghizaal, meaning gazelle. It is a poem containing a minimum of 5 verses and maximum 25. The opening verse of the ghazal is called matla and both hemistiches rhyme with one another. The last verse of the ghazal is a maqta, which usually contains the penname of the poet. Most of Persian and Urdu writers have earned fame as ghazal writers. Ghazal is the soul of Urdu literature and most popular form of Urdu poetry.
The following is an example of sher, composed by Mirza Ghalib:
nahii.n ki mujhko qayaamat kaa etiqaad nahii.n
shab-e-firaaq se roz-e-jazaa ziyaad nahii.n
It is not that I do not have faith in (the pains of) the day of judgement
But the night of separation is not less than the day of judgement.
What the poet is trying to say is that he trusts that the day of judgement would be very painful, as it has been described in Qur'an and Hadith; however, this night of separation from his beloved is not less painful than the day of judgement.
A better example of ghazal is shown below from two couplets of Baqa Akbarabadi*, a contemporary of Meer Taqi Meer, from a ghazal written in the classical conversational form, that is, a dialogue between the lover and the beloved. This traditional form, as seen in Hafiz Shirazi's works in old Persian poetry, does seldom appear in contemporary Urdu works.Today we have only few good ghazal writers it includes dr asif husain Tahir faraz,Iqbal ashar,Naseem nikhat ETC.
Kaha main ne! Sila meri wafa ka tujhsey kya nikla?
Kaha us ne! Nateeja dil lagane ka, bura nikla?
Kaha main ne! Wajah koi teri is be-wafaai ki?
Kaha us ne! Fida mujhpar koi, tujhsey siwa nikla! Said I! What return did my love get back from you?
Said she! Did indeed your heart have a bad experience?
Said I! What caused this unfaithfulness of yours?
Said she! Someone more enchanted than you has shown up!
*Diwaan e Baqa Akbarabadi, Nizami Press Kanpur India 1932. Kutubkhana Anjuman Taraqqi Urdu. Hyderabad. India.
4-Fard---
Composition of only a single SHER, Shero-Shayari, Shyari, Shayri is called FARD.
5-Hamd---
These are works written in praise of Allah.
6-Hijv---
(Satire). A poem written to condemn or to abuse a person. This form of poetry is considered of low type and which is usually avoided by reputed poets. The exact opposite of HIJV is MADAH which is a poem written in praise of Kings and Patrons.
7-Matla---
Rhyming of the first two lines of a GHAZAL is called HUSN-E-MATLA.
8-Madah----
Poem written in praise of Kings and Patrons.
9-Manqabat----
Poem written in praise of Ahle-E-Bait (the members of the family of Prophet Muhammad) or Sahaaba (companions of the Prophet)
10-Maqta---
The last line of a GHAZAL or a poem which generally contains the poet's pen-name.
11-Masnawi---
A long epic poem describing the battles fought long ago and past events. It may also contain philosophical or ethical themes. The most famous MASNAWIS are Shah-Namah of Firdosi, Masnavi-E-Roomi in Persian language and Zehar-E-Ishq in Urdu. (Tarekh-E-Islam-AZ-Quran) by Allama Dr.Syed Ali Imam Zaidi (Gauher lucknavi) published by Nizami Press Lucknow.226003
12-Matla---
The opening SHER of a GHAZAL.
13-Misra---
One line of a couplet, or verse.
14-Munajat---
A lyrical poem as prayer to Allah.
15-Musaddas--
Each unit consists of 6 lines (Misra). Most famous writer of this type of poem is Maulana Altaf Husain Hali.
16-Naat---
Verses written in praise of Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W)
17-Nazm---
The literary meaning of Nazm is Poetry (cf. Nasr, or Prose) A poem fully dealing with a single subject or thought.
18-Qafia
Rhyming of the last words of a poem.
19-Qasida
(Ballad). It is a long poem in Urdu, Persian or Arabic which usually describes battles or written in praise of kings; princes or the poet's patron. There is no limit of verses; it may even go beyond hundred lines.
20-Qat'a
(Fragments). It has two Ashaar and has a one complete subject. Plural Qita'at.
21-Radeef
(End rhyme). Each SHER or couple of GHAZAL in addition to QAFIA may also have RADEEF which is rhyming of more than the last two or three words.
22-Ruba'i
Persian word for Quatrain. Contains only 4 lines, the third one being different from the other three as it should not have QAFIA and RADEEF. RUBA'I deals with social, philosophical and romantic subjects. In Persian language Umar Khayyam is supposed to be a great poet of RUBAIYY A T whereas in Urdu Yagana, Firaq and Josh are leading poets of this time and Anis, an old time poet.
23-Salam
(Literal meaning Salutation) It is a kind of poem in which the incidents of Karbala i.e. hardships of Imam Husain and his followers are described It is also written in praise of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, and is recited by standing up.
24-Sehra
A song sung at the time of tying Sehra during wedding ceremony, praising the bride or the bridegroom and their relatives.
25-Shehr Ashob
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26-Tah-Tul-Lafz
The manner of reciting a poem; like rhythmic prose i.e. without singing; word for word. And, when a poem is sung, its tune is called TARANNUM.
27-Takhallus
A name adopted by a poet, by which he is known in the literary world.
28-Wasokht
Literal meaning 'displeasure' or 'disgust'. A kind of poem in which the displeasure and carelessness of a lover is narrated; while relinquishing the beloved.
29-Geet
Song or hymn.
30-Qawwali
Sufi music expressing the love and oneness with God or Prophet Muhammad and his companions sung by a group of people to the accompaniment of musical instruments. Nowadays, it has taken popular form covering subjects of romance, liquor, etc.
