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The Wonderful World of Shayari
What is Shayari?
The creativity of human mind is awesome. When working on something that it likes,
the mind can create wonders. Urdu Poetry is one such brilliant way of expressing
innermost thoughts that not only make the person who shares it feel enlightened, but
also creates similar environment among those sitting around. Poetry mixed with
music is nothing but giving a harmonious accord to words that are sung in a tune.
Happiness, sadness, loneliness, ecstasy, freedom, attractiveness, romanticism,
friendship, patriotism – anything can be expressed through this unique way of
communication.
Shayari – a beautiful musical Urdu poetry allows a person to express the deepest
feelings through words. It lets you explain sentiments in all their forms through
rhythmic words. The journey of this wonderful form of poetry is long but full of
excitement and enjoyment. While no can tell from where it originated and how old it
is, its ability to touch hearts through expressive and desirous words is what has made
it commendable.
Shayari has been utilized a lot to convey the sentiment of love. Beautifullywritten and
narrated Shayari makes it easy for a lover to pour of heart in front of the lover. All over
globe, millions of people have used this form of poetry to reach out to their loved
ones. One of the most cherished forms of Shayari is done through romanticized verses.
So much is the power in this form that it becomes soul stirring for those who hear it,
Shayari is a loveable language among lovers because it also helps in healing the pain of
broken heart and molding it easily from the nature of sadness. The funnier aspect of
Shayari can help to bring out people from dark and enlighten their mood. A good
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verse plays a role of fresh air in the daily life of the person who hears it often and
keeps the mind and heart enlightened. Shayari also bonds the heart of people and
connect them into distinctive intimacy and interdependence.
Components of Shayari
Shayari essentially comprises of verse, or Sher. Its plural is called Ashaar. By
combining multiple ashaar, a ghazal is formed. Each of these ashaar ideally conveys a
complete thought, independent of other Shayari or verses in the same ghazal.
Therefore, different ashaar belonging to the same ghazal can have different meanings
and tones. Ashaar typically has two lines (also called Mishra - first line is labeled as
‘Mishra-e-oola’ and the second is called ‘Mishra-e-sani’). Each couplet embodies a
single thought, subject or thing.
Understanding Its Terminology
To enjoy Shayari, one must understand its vocabulary. Following are the words
commonly used in/for this poetry.
» Bait: Another term used for Shayari.
» Bait-Ul-Ghazal: The best sher in a ghazal, given this status on the basis
of its meaning and positioning in the ghazal.
» Fard: Composition of only a single sher, complete in itself
» Geet: Song or hymn that consists of few verses sung either alone or in
chorus and a popular way of expressing innermost emotions.
» Ghazal (Ode): Literal meaning of the word ‘Ghazal’ is to communicate
with one’s beloved. This word has originated from the Arabic work
Ghizaal, implying gazelle – a poetic expression of feelings that has
minimum of 5 verses and maximum 25. Every ghazal opens with a verse
called Mukhda, and the lines following the mukhda smoothly rhyme
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with one another. The last verse usually contains the penname of the
poet. There are many Urdu and Persian writers who have earned fame as
ghazal writers, making it the soul of Urdu literature.
» Hamd: The words written in the praise of God or Allah.
» Hijv: The satirical version of the Shayari written to condemn or abuse a
person. The nature of Hijv is considered low (cheap) and this type of
poetry is generally avoided by reputed poets.
» Hazal: Poem with humorous subject.
» Husn-E-Matla: It’s the art of rhyming of the first two lines of a ghazal.
» Madah: A poem written in the praise of kings, warriors and patrons.
» Manqabat: Verses written in the admiration of Ahle-E-Bait (Holy
Phophet and the family members)
» Marsiya: A poem written to honor the heroic acts of great men of
Islamic history. These usually describe the fierce battle that was fought
on the plains of Karbala in Iraq by the mighty Hazarat Imam Husain and
his followers against the majestic army of Yazid. The poem also has
some mourning content. Even a single verse written to mourn the death
of a dear friend can be considered Marsiya, which has the sub parts of
Noha and Soz that related to aching and burning of heart.
» Masnawi: An extensive and elongated epic poem depicting the great
battles fought long ago and the historic events of earlier periods, usually
flavored with philosophical or ethical themes. Some of the world-wide
knows Masnawi are Masnavi-E-Roomi and Shah-Namah of Firdosi in
Persian language and Zehar-E-Ishq in Urdu.
» Misra: One first line of a couplet, or verse.
» Munajat: An expressive couplet sung as a prayer to God.
» Musaddas: A combination of six lines or Misra. Maulana Altaf Husain
Hali is considered the most famous writer of this type of poem till date.
» Mushaira: A convention of Urdu, Arabic or Hindi poets; a poet’s
gathering.
» Naat: Poems written to go into raptures over of work of Holy Prophet.
» Nazm: A poem or prose that with a single thought or subject.
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» Qafia: The melodious rhyming of the last lines of a poem.
» Qasida: A long poem written in Arabic, Urdu or Persian describing
battles fought or won by kings, princes, warriors or the poet’s patron.
The poem can be as long as the poet desires and sometimes may run
into over two hundred lines.
» Qita: A poem fragmented into two ashaars, revolving around a single
subject.
» Qawwali: Usually sung in sufi style by a group of people with musical
instruments, these are devotional song expressing the oneness and love
with God.
» Radeef : Every sher or ghazal, in addition to qafia may also have radeef,
which is made by rhyming of the last three or four words.
» Salam: Recited by standing up, salam’s literal meaning is salutation.
» Sehra: A folk song sung at the time of wedding while tying Sehra on the
groom, praising the culture and families of the bride or the groom.
» Takhallus: The pen name of the poet, by which he is known in the
fictional world.
» Tarannum: The unique manner in which every poet recites poem.
» Wasokht: A sort of Urdu poem in which the discontentment and
annoyance of a lover is narrated.
These are some of the terms used in Shayari. A listener of any language can enjoy the
pleasures of Shayari as it requires an emotional heart to understand the prose and
verses it. In short – it is the essence of Urdu poetry that has continued to offer joy and
amusement to the realms of the past till the gatherings of today.
