1 Muslim singing in vernacular metres

The early examples of Urdu prosody are found in the vernacular couplets by the mystic poets of Northern Hindustan. But in the poetry of Khusrau (1253-1325) and other contemporary poets, Persian prosody is also used. As there was little poetical composition in Urdu, early Urdu had practically no variation of verse rhythm. Mystic poets composed their poetry by using traditional Hindu couplets such as Doha, while other poets tried to apply Persian verse rhythm.

Mora Metre
dohā chand

Persian Verse rhythm

mutaqārib muthaman maqbūz āthlam muẓā‘af

Definition:fa-‘ū-l fe‘-lun fa-‘ū-l fe‘-lun fa-‘ū-l fe‘-lun fa-‘ū-l fe‘-lun
A sample from Amīr Khusrau’s works WAV 44k
　ze ḥāl-e miskīṅ ma-kun taghāful daurārē naināṅ banaē battiyāṅ
　cō tāb-e hijrāṅ na-dāram aē jāṅ nā leho hāhe lagāē chattiyāṅ

ramal muthamman maḥzūf / maqṣūr

Definition:fā-‘i-lā-tun fā-‘i-lā-tun fā-‘i-lā-tun fā-‘i-lun
A sample from Shaikh Jamālī Kanboh (1535)’s works WAV 44k
　āṅ parī rukhsār cūṅ shānah bah cōṭī mē kunad
āṅ darāz-e ‘āshiqāṅ rā ‘umr chōṭī mē kunad

sarī‘ mut̤wī makshūf

Definition : muf-ta-‘i-lun muf-ta-‘i-lun fā-‘i-lun
A sample from Bābā Farīd Shakar Ganj (d. 1265)’s works WAV 44k
　pand-e shakar ganj ba- dil jāṅ shunū
　ẓāi ma-kun ‘umr keh hēhāt hai

hazaj musaddas maḥdhūf maqṣūr

Definition:ma-fā-‘ī-lun ma-fā-‘ī-lun fa-‘ū-lun
A sample from Afẓal (d. 1625)’s works WAV 44k
　sunō sakhiyō! bikaṭ mērī kahanī
　bhaī hūṅ ‘ishq kē gham sōṅ diwānī

hazaj muthamman sālim

Definiyion:ma-fā-‘ī-lun ma-fā-‘ī-lun ma-fā-‘ī-lun ma-fā-‘ī-lun
A sample from Panḍit Candar Bhān Brahman (1574-1662)’s works WAV 44k
　khudā nē kis shahr andar haman kō lāē ḍālā hai
　nah dil-bar hai nah sāqī hai nah shīshāh hai nah piyālāh hai

rajaz muthamman sālim

Definition:mus-taf-‘i-lun mus-taf-‘i-lun mus-taf-‘i-lun mus-taf-‘i-lun
A sample from Amīr Sajzī (1254?-1337?)’s works WAV 44k
　har laḥz̤ah āyad dar dil-am dēkhūṅ usē ṭuk jāē kar
　gōyam ḥikāyat-e hijr-e khud bā ān ṣanam jīv lāē kar

mutaqārib muthamman athram

Definition:fe‘-l fa-‘ū-lun fe‘-l fa-‘ū-lun fe‘-l fa-‘ū-lun fe‘-lun fa‘/
fā‘i fa-‘ū-lun / fe‘-lun fe‘-lun WAV 44k
　māī nah hōtī bāp nah hōtā karam nah hōtā kāyā
　ham nahīṅ hōtē tum nahīṅ hōtē kaun kahāṅ tē āyā

2 Mixture of Persian and Vernacular prosody
Dakani Era: 15-16c.

In the early period of the Deccan sultanates, mora metre was in vogue and like in Northern Hindusthan, poetry begins with the works of mystic poets such as Shaikh Bahāudin Bājan (15c.), Qāẓī Mahmūd Daryāī (1419-1534), Shaikh ‘Alī Ghiu Jīvgām Dhanī (d. 1515) and Khūb Muḥammad Chishtī (d. 1614). The form of their poetry is totally indigenous. During ‘Ādil Shāhī dynasty, this tradition reached its climax in the poems of Jānam and Jagat Guru. This tradition was succeeded by Mīrāṅ Jī (d.1496) and Ashraf Bayābānī (1459-1528).

Mora Metre
24 moras: Doha Chand

Definition:fe‘-lun fe‘-lun fe‘-l fa‘ / fa‘il fe‘-lun fa‘
fe‘-lun fe‘-lun fe‘-l fa‘ / fā‘-lun fa‘il fa-‘ūl
A sample from Shaikh Bājan (15c. ) ’s works WAV 44k
　bhaūṅrā lēwē phūl ras rasiyā lēwē mās
　mālī siṅcē ās kar bhaūṅrā khaṛā udās

Mora Metre
28 moras: Sarsi/Sar Chand

Definition: fe‘-l fa-‘ū-lun fe‘-lun fe‘-lun fe‘-lun fā‘ fa-‘ū-lun

A sample from Mīrāṅ Jī (d. 1496) ’s works WAV 44k
　kabhī nah rangī mehndī rangōṅ phūlōṅ bās nah āyā
　ang nah rangiyā dantō us kē bhēnī nah haldōṅ kāyā

Mora Metre
29 moras: 14 + 15

Definition: fe‘-lun fa‘l fe‘-lun fa‘ fa‘l fa-‘ū-lun fe‘-lun fā‘
A sample from Ashraf (1459-1528)’s works WAV 44k
　zainab ahē us kā nām   nain salōnē jūṅ bādām
　māthā jānūṅ sūraj lāṭ   yā kē jānūṅ cānd alāṭ

Mora Metre
31 moras: 15 + 16

Definition: fe‘-lun fe‘-lun fe‘-lun fā‘   fe‘-lun fe‘-lun fe‘-lun fā‘
fe‘-lun fe‘-lun fa‘ fe‘-lun   fe‘-lun fe‘-lun fā‘ fa-‘ū-lun
A sample from Qāẓī Mahmūd (1419-1534)’s works WAV 44k
　āp　nah āyā nah bhējā kōī aise pachtāwē kītā rōē
　qutb-e‘ālam tan jō mahō pā'ūṅ cun cun kaliyān sēj bichāūṅ

Mora Metre
32 moras

Definition: fā‘ fa-‘ū-lun fe‘-lun fe‘-lun   fā‘ fa-‘ū-lun fe‘-lun fe‘-lun
fā‘ fa-‘ū-lun fe‘-lun fa‘   fe‘-lun fe‘-lun fe‘-lun fe‘-lun
A sample from Shaikh ‘Alī Jīv (d. 1515)’s works WAV 44k
　shāh-e shahāṅ haiṅ jē jag māhāṅ   sēwā karēṅ jō tujh darbārā
　ghauth qutb ‘ālam kīrē wārī jāwēṅ tujh par piyārā

Mora Metre
Caupāī: 16 moras

Definition: fā‘ fa-‘ū-lun fe‘-lun fe‘-lun, fā‘ fa-‘ū-lun fe‘-lun fe‘-lun
A sample from Qāẓī Mahmūd’s works WAV 44k
　jāg piyārī ab kyā sōwē   Rain kanī tyūṅ din kyā khōwē

baḥr-e mutaqārib muthamman maḥdhūf / maqṣūr

Definition: fa-‘ū-lun fa-‘ū-lun fa-‘ū-lun fa-‘ū-l / fe‘-l
A sample from Fakharuddin Niz̤āmī (14c. )’s works WAV 44k
　bhalā bhī tahīṅ munjh burā bhī tahīṅ
　terē pāē hōṅ chōṛ jā soṅ kahīṅ

baḥr-e rajaz muthamman sālim

Definition: mus-taf-‘i-lun mus-taf-‘i-lun mus-taf-‘i-lun mus-taf-‘i-lun
A sample from Mushtāq’s works WAV 44k
　sūraj kē gal meṅ cānd jyūṅ yūṅ tujh galē haikal disē
　qurbān us kē hāth par jin aē terī haikal ghaṛī

hazaj muthamman sālim

Definition: ma-fā-‘ī-lun ma-fā-‘ī-lun ma-fā-‘ī-lun ma-fā-‘ī-lun
A sample from Mushtāq’s works WAV 44k
　ō kiswat kēsrī kartan caman miyānē calī hai ā
　rahē khilnē kōṅ tyūṅ distī ō canpē kī kalī hai ā

muẓare‘ muthamman akhrab

Definition: maf-‘ū-l fā-‘i-lā-tun maf-‘ū-l fā-‘i-lā-tun
A sample from Lut̤fī’s works WAV 44k
　khalwat mēṅ sajan kē maiṅ mōm kī battī hūṅ
　yak pāōṅ par khaṛī hūṅ jalnē parat pattī hūṅ

munsariḥ munt̤avī maksūf

Definition: muf-ta-‘i-lun fā-‘i-lun muf-ta-‘i-lun fā-‘i-lun
A sample from Lut̤fī’s works WAV 44k
　marg kā t̤ōt̤ī haryā mushk khat̤āī caṛiyā
　rāt kā ‘anbar sariyā ṣubaḥ kī phūṭī kiran

rajaz murabba‘ sālim

Definition: mus-taf-‘i-lun mus-taf-‘i-lun WAV 44k
A sample from Shāh Ἁlī’s works
　yeh jiū to rahtā nahīṅ haur man dūkh sahtā nahīṅ

hazaj murabba‘ sālim

Definition: ma-fā-‘ī-lun ma-fā-‘ī-lun
A sample from Shāh Ἁlī’s works WAV 44k
　jō jiūṛā piū sūn lāgā
　hae jis neh kī āgā
　tinhōṅ kā lōbh sab bhāgā

mutaqārib muthamman sālim

Definition: fa-‘ū-lun fa-‘ū-lun fa-‘ū-lun fa-‘ū-lun
A sample from Khūb Muḥammad Chishtī’s works WAV 44k
　taqārub muthamman jō khūbeṅ kahē hai
　chūṅ jin sō miṣr‘ē muthamman lahē hai

mutadārik muthamman sālim

Definition: fā-‘i-lun fā-‘i-lun fā-‘i-lun fā-‘i-lun
A sample from Khūb Muḥammad Chishtī’s works WAV 44k
　baḥr sun jab tadāruk mēṅ āniē khūb tab fā‘ilun aṣal ōs jāniē

mutaqārib muthamman maḥdhūf / maqsūr

Definition: fa-‘ū-lun fa-‘ū-lun fa-‘ū-lun fa-‘ū-l / fe‘-l
A sample from ‘Abdal’s Ibrāhīm Nāma WAV 44k
　kōī bālōṅ darmiyān yūṅ māng cīr/disē jyūṅ kasōṭī mēṅ sōnē kī kīr//
　kōī mukḥ udhar par sau la‘lī dharī/ rakhē ārsī bic kanwal pankhaṛī//

hazaj musaddas maḥdhūf

Definition: ma-fā-‘ī-lun ma-fā-‘ī-lun fa-‘ū-lun
A sample from Ibn-e Nashātī (d. 1655)’s Phūl Bun WAV 44k
　sō dēkhā khāb mēṅ darvēsh kō ēk
　dunyā kē ‘āqibat andēsh kō ēk

ramal muthamman makhbūn

Definition: fā-‘i-lā-tun fe‘-lā-tun fe‘-lā-tun fe‘-lun
A sample from Nuṣratī (d. 1674)’s couplets WAV 44k
　rakhiyā is fataḥ kē nāmē kā ‘alī nāmah nāōṅ
　jis kā har razmiyah rustam kē galē kā haikal

hazaj muthamman sālim

Definition: ma-fā-‘ī-lun ma-fā-‘ī-lun ma-fā-‘ī-lun ma-fā-‘ī-lun
A sample from Nuṣratī’s Ghazals WAV 44k
　disēṅ dhan mukh bic naināṅ keh mōtī thāl mēṅ ḍhaltē
　laṭāṅ chaṭ tan upar yūṅ hai bhōnk jyūṅ nīr par jhaltē

rajaz muthamman sālim

Definition: mus-taf-‘i-lun mus-taf-‘i-lun mus-taf-‘i-lun mus-taf-‘i-lun
A sample from Nuṣratī’s Ghazals WAV 44k
　t̤āqat nahīṅ dūrī kī ab tū bēg ā mil rē piyā
　tuj bin muṅjē jīvnā bhūt hōtā hai mushkil rē piyā

Ābhār: Mora metre

Definition: fe‘-lun fa-‘ū-lun fa-‘ū-lun fa-‘ū-lun fa-‘ū-lun fa-‘ū-lun fa-‘ū-lun fa-‘ū-lun
A sample from Shāh Sirāj (1715-1763)’s works WAV 44k
　dil mēṅ khayālāt-e rangīṅ guzartē haiṅ jyūṅ bās phūlōṅ kē rangōṅ mēṅ rahiyē
　waḥshat kē jangal mēṅ kab lag parēshāṅ hō tum keh bhārōṅ kē sangōṅ mēṅ rahiyē

mutaqārib muthamman sālim muẓa‘af

Definition: fa-‘ū-lun fa-‘ū-lun fa-‘ū-lun fa-‘ū-lun fa-‘ū-lun fa-‘ū-lun fa-‘ū-lun fa-‘ū-lun
A sample from Shāh Sirāj’s works WAV 44k
　khayālāt-e nairang-e cashm-e ṣanam sēṅ hai shīshē mēṅ dil kē parī kā tamāshā
　hamēṅ ṣaḥn-e gulshan mēṅ tum mat dikhāō gul-e nargis-e ‘abharī kā tamāshā

ramal mashkūl

Definition: fa-‘i-lā-t fā-‘i-lā-tun fa-‘i-lā-t fā-‘i-lā-tun
A sample from Nuṣratī’s work WAV 44k
　jinē dhan jauvan kī mastī karē sō khajil hō ākhir
　keh ae nuṣratī kisī par yo baqā mudām naiṅ hai

hazaj muthamman sālim

Definition: ma-fā-‘ī-lun ma-fā-‘ī-lun ma-fā-‘ī-lun ma-fā-‘ī-lun
A sample from Walī (1667-1707)’s Ghazals WAV 44k
　nikal ae dil-rubā ghar sūṅ keh waqt-e bē-ḥijābī hai
　caman mēṅ cal bahār-e nastaran hai māhtābī hai

mutaqārib muthamman sālim

Definition: fa-‘ū-lun fa-‘ū-lun fa-‘ū-lun fa-‘ū-lun
A sample from Qulī Qut̤b Shāh’s works WAV 44k
　chabēlī hai ṣūrat hamārē sajan kī   kyā pōtlī is kahūṅ ap nayan kī

khafīf musaddas makhbūn maḥdhūf

Definition: fā-‘i-lā-tun mafā-‘i-lun fe‘-lun
A sample from Walī’s works WAV 44k
　khūb-rū khūb kām kartē haiṅ   yak nigah mēṅ ghulām kartē haiṅ

hazaj muthamman akhrab

Definition: maf-‘ū-l ma-fā-‘ī-lun maf-‘ū-l ma-fā-‘ī-lun
A sample from Walī’s Ghazals WAV 44k
　mat ghuṣṣē kē shō‘lē sūṅ jaltē kūṅ jalātī jā ṭuk mehr kē pānī sūṅ yeh āg bujhātī jā

munsariḥ mut̤avī maksūf

Definition: muf-ta-‘i-lun fā-‘i-lun muf-ta-‘i-lun fā-‘i-lun
A sample from Walī ’s Ghazals WAV 44k
　zulf tērī barhaman mukh hai terā āftāb
　mukh hai terā āftāb zulf tērī barhaman

rajaz muthamman sālim

Definition: mus-taf-‘i-lun mus-taf-‘i-lun mustaf‘ilun mus-taf-‘i-lun
A sample from Nuṣratī’s works WAV 44k
　khūbāṅ manē awwal hai tū ākhir nahīṅ thānī hanūz
　mīthāq nē tuj rūp kī duniyāṅ hai dīwānī hanūz

hazaj musaddas maḥdhūf

Definition: ma-fā-‘ī-lun ma-fā-‘ī-lun fa-‘ū-lun / fa-‘ū-lān
A sample from Qulī Qut̤b Shāh’s works WAV 44k
　terē mukh par laṭāṅ naiṅ haiṅ keh dō nāg
　sulaimāṅ kī angūṭhī kē haiṅ rakhwāl

muẓāre‘ muthamman akhrab makfūf maḥdhūf

Definition: maf-‘ū-l fā-‘i-lā-t ma-fā‘-ī-l fā-‘i-lun
A sample from Walī’s Ghazals WAV 44k
　us sarv-e khush adā kūṅ hamārā salām hai
　us yār-e bē-wafā kūṅ hamārā salām hai

muẓāre‘ akhrab

Definition: maf-‘ū-l fā-‘i-lā-tun maf-‘ū-l fā-‘i-lā-tun
A sample from Walī’s Ghazals WAV 44k
　bāgh-e iram sūṅ behtar mōhan terī galī hai
　sākin terī galī kā har ān mēṅ walī hai

hazaj ushtar

Definition:　fā-‘i-lun ma-fā-‘ī-lun fā-‘i-lun ma-fā-‘ī-lun
A sample from Walī’s Ghazals WAV 44k
　mū bah mū mēṅ tujh gham sūṅ zo‘f-o-nā-tawānī hai
　ṭuk karam karō sājan waqt-e mehrbānī hai

mutaqārib athlam shānzdah ruknī

Definition: fa-‘ū-l fe‘-lun fa-‘ū-l fe‘-lun fa-‘ū-l fe‘-lun fa-‘ū-l fe‘-lun
A sample from Walī’s Ghazals WAV 44k
　suraj hai shō‘lah terī agan kā jō jā falak par jhalak liyā hai
　namak nē apnē namak kō khō kar terē namak sōṅ namak liyā hai

khafīf makhbūn maḥdhūf

Definition: fā-‘i-lā-tun ma-fā-‘i-lun fe‘-lun
A sample from Qaẓī Maḥmūd’s works WAV 44k
　dēkh tērē ō rukh rangīlē lāl
　phūl hōtē haiṅ phūl khil khush ḥāl

ramal makhbūn maḥdhūf

Definition: fā-‘i-lā-tun fa-‘i-lā-tun fa-‘i-lā-tun fe‘-lun
A sample from Shāh Sirāj’s works WAV 44k
　mujh sēṅ gham dast-o-girēbāṅ nah huā thā sō huā
　cāk sīnē kā numāyāṅ nah huā thā sō huā

ramal makhbūn maḥdhūf

Definition: fā-‘i-lā-tun fa-‘i-lā-tun fa-‘i-lā-tun fe‘-lun
A sample from Shāh Sirāj’s works WAV 44k
　kyā qiyāmat hai merē dil kō lubhānāṅ jānāṅ
　phir taghāful kī agan bīc jalānāṅ jānāṅ
　shōkhī-o-nāz sēṅ jātā hai tūṅ phir ātā hai
　āfat dil hai qiyāmat hai yeh ānāṅ jānāṅ

mujtath makhbūn maḥdhūf

Definition: ma-fā-‘i-lun fe‘-lā-tun ma-fā-‘i-lun fe-‘lun
A sample from Shāh Sirāj’s works WAV 44k
　ṣanam hazār huā tō wohī ṣanam kā ṣanam
　keh aṣl-e hastī nābūd hai ‘adam kā ‘adam

kāmil muthamman

Definition: mu-ta-fā-‘i-lun mu-ta-fā-‘i-lun mu-ta-fā-‘i-lun mu-ta-fā-‘i-lun
A sample from Shāh Sirāj’s works WAV 44k
　khabar-e taḥaiyur-e ‘ishq sun nah junūṅ rahā nah parī rahī
　nah tō tū rahā nah tō maiṅ rahā jō rahī sō bē-khabrī rahī

baḥr-e kāmil muthamman

Definition: mu-ta-fā-‘i-lun mu-ta-fā-‘i-lun mu-ta-fā-‘i-lun mu-ta-fā-‘i-lun
A sample from Shāh Sirāj’s works WAV 44k
　calī simt-e ghaib sē ik hawā keh caman surūr kā jal gayā
　magar ēk shākh-e nihāl-e gham jisē dil kahēṅ sō harī rahī

hazaj muthamman sālim

Definition: ma-fā-‘ī-lun ma-fā-‘ī-lun ma-fā-‘ī-lun ma-fā-‘ī-lun
A sample from Wajhī’s Qutub Mushtarī (1609-10) WAV 44k
　piyā mukh nūr thē hai jāwidāṅ ham-‘īd-o-ham-nau rōz
　sūraj āvō ḥamal yā nah ‘ayāṅ ham-‘īd-o-ham-nau rōz

muẓāre‘ muthamman akhrab makfūf maḥdhūf

Definition: maf-‘ū-l fā-‘i-lā-t ma-fā-‘ī-l fā-‘i-lun
A sample from Ghawwāṣī (d. 1631)’s works WAV 44k
　ḥikmat sē jē ḥakīm yūṅ paidā jahāṅ kiyā
　raushan phir akhtarāṅ sō gagan kē tharrāṅ kiyā

mujtath muthamman makhbūn maḥdhūf

Definition: ma-fā-‘i-lun fa-‘i-lā-tun ma-fā-‘i-lun fe‘-lun
A sample from Ghawwāṣī’s works WAV 44k
　kitāb us kī bayān-e kalām-e rabbānī
　ḥadīth us kī zabāṅ kā hai makhzan-e asrār

hazaj muthamman sālim

Definition: ma-fā-‘ī-lun ma-fā-‘ī-lun ma-fā-‘ī-lun ma-fā-‘ī-lun
A sample from Mirzā (17c.)’s works WAV 44k
　ḥusain ibn-e ‘alī kā gham muḥibbāṅ dil sōṅ karnā hai
　apas jiu kē girēbāṅ mēṅ janam yō dāgh dharnā hai

rajaz muthamman sālim

Definition: mus-taf-‘i-lun mus-taf-‘i-lun mus-taf-‘i-lun mus-taf-‘i-lun
A sample from Khushnūd’s works WAV 44k
sīnāh nabī kā cāk hai sārā mulk gham-nāk hai
‘ālam uṛātā khāk hai kyā khalq dukh pāyā ‘ajab

muẓāre‘ akhrab makfūf maḥdhūf

Definition: maf-‘ū-l fā-‘i-lā-t ma-fā-‘ī-l fā-‘i-lun
A sample from Mirzā’s works WAV 44k
　āyā ‘ashūr jag mēṅ qayāmat banā huā
　har shae kūṅ phir ḥusain kā mātam nawā huā

Rubā‘ī : A collection of Quatrains

Definition: maf-‘ū-l ma-fā-‘i-lun ma-fā-‘i-lun fa‘ / fā‘
maf-‘ū-lun fā-‘i-lun ma-fā-‘ī-lun fā‘ / fa‘
A sample from Ghawwāṣī’s works WAV 44k
　dēkh ‘ām yō dunyā kahē manzil sō hēc
　yā khāṣ sō ‘aqbā kahē ḥaṣil sō hēc
　ḥairāṅ hūṅ mōlā kī t̤alab mēṅ pūrā
　‘āshiqū sō kahē sab thē mushkil sō hēc

3 Establishment of Urdu Prosody
The Era of North India : 18th century -

The decline of Mughal empire starts with the death of Aurangzeb ‘Ālamgīr. Due to the conspiracy of Muhatas and the attacks by Nādir Shāh, it ended in 1803 upon the conquest of Delhi fort. The Persian court literature nourished by the Great Mughal losts its patronage. The scholars started to pay their attention to the local language. The Urdu movement begins under the influence of Khān-e-Ārzū, and reaches its peak in the “Golden Age” of Urdu poetry. Meanwhile, Mīr Taqī Mīr (1723-1810) and Mirzā Saudā (1713-1781) had special impacts.
Prosodic diversity is also seen with the same intensity as it was found in Urdu poetry in the previous era. Urdu prosody is shaping itself. Particularly it was developed by Mīr. Urdu poetry flourished with the activity of Ābrū (c. 1692-1747), Nājī (d. 1754), Yakraṅg (18c.), Ṭek Chand Bahār (18c.), Ḥātim (b.1699, d.1781 or 1792), Maz̤har Jān-e Jānāṅ (1699-1781), Saudā (1713-80), Khwājah Mīr Dard (1719-1785), Ghālib (1797-1869), Maumin (1800-1851), Z̤auq(1789-1854), Z̤afar (1775-1862) etc. in that era.

(1) Delhi

muqtaẓab muthamman mut̤wī

Definition: fā-‘i-lā-t maf-‘ū-lun fā-‘i-lā-t maf-‘ū-lun
A sample from Ghālib’s couplets WAV 44k
　kahtē hō nah dēṅgē ham dil agar paṛā pāyā
　dil kahāṅ keh gum kījiyē ham nē mudd‘ā pāyā

ramal maḥdhūf murabba‘

Definition: fā-‘i-lā-tun fā-‘i-lun
A sample from Z̤afar’s couplets WAV 44k
cup rahā jātā nahīṅ kab talak cupkē rahēṅ

mutaqārib athlam

Definition: fā‘ fa-‘ū-lun fe‘-lun fa‘
A sample from Z̤afar’s couplets WAV 44k
　pūch nah dil-bar kyā kahvēṅ
　dard-e jigar dō din sē hai

muẓāre‘ muthamman akhrab

Definition: maf-‘ū-l fā-‘i-lā-tun maf-‘ū-l fā-‘i-lā-tun
A sample from Mīr’s Ghazals WAV 44k
　galiyōṅ mēṅ ab talak tō madhkūr hai hamārā/
　afsānah-e muḥabbat mashfūr hai hamārā//
　kaisī wafā-o-ulfat khātē ‘abath hō qasmēṅ/
　muddat huī uṭhāīṅ tum nē yeh sārī rasmēṅ//
　ā ham nashīṅ kisū kē mat ‘ishq kī hawas kar/
　jātī haiṅ yūṅ hī nādāṅ jānēṅ taras taras kar//

The Metre used by Mīr

Sample 1: baḥr-e Mīr WAV 44k
Definition: fe‘-lun fā-‘i fa-‘ū-lun fe‘-lun fā‘ fa-‘ū-lun fā‘ fe‘-l
fe‘-lun fe‘-lun fā-‘i fa-‘ū-lun fe‘-lun fā-‘i fa-‘ū-l fe‘-l
fā-‘i fa-‘ū-lun fe‘-lun fe‘-lun fe‘-lun fā-‘i fa-‘ū-l fa-‘ū-l
fe‘-lun fā-‘i fa-‘ū-lun fe‘-lun fā-‘i fa-‘ū-lun fā-‘i fa-‘ū-l

Sample 1
　ulṭī hō gaīṅ sab tadbīrēṅ kuch nah dawānē kām kiyā/
　dēkhā is bīmārī-e dil nē ākhir kām tamām kiyā//
　āj hamārē ghar āyā tō kyā hai yāṅ jō nithār karēṅ/
　illā khēṅc baghal mēṅ tujh kō dēr talak ham piyār kiyā//


Sample 2: baḥr-e rubā‘ī WAV 44k
Definitiion: maf-‘ū-l ma-fā-‘i-lun ma-fā-‘ī-lun fa‘ / fā‘
maf-‘ū-lun fā-‘i-lun ma-fā-‘ī-lun fā‘ / fa‘

　sab sharm jabīn-e yār sē pānī hai
　har cand keh gul shugftāh pēshānī hai

Sample 3: savaiyā chand 31+32 mātrās WAV 44k
　hāē sitam nā-cār ma‘īshat karnī paṛī har khār kē sāth
　jān-e ‘azīz gaī hōtī kāsh ab kē baras bahār kē sāth

ramal muthamman makhbūn

Definition: fā-‘i-lā-tun fa-‘i-lā-tun fa-‘i-lā-tun fe‘-lun
A sample from Saudā’s works WAV 44k
　yārō mahtāb-o-gul-o-shama‘ baham cārōṅ ēk
　maiṅ katāṅ bulbul ō parwānāh yeh baham cārōṅ ēk

The metre used by Naz̤īr

Sample 1: mutadārik makhbūn muqt̤ū‘ muẓā‘if WAV 44k
　ṭuk ḥirṣ-o-hawā kī chōṛ miyāṅ mat dēs badēs phirē mārā
　qazzāq ajal kā lūṭē hai din rāt bajā kar naqqārā

(2) Lucknow

The metre used by Inshā (1756-1818))

Sample 1: ramal makhbūn WAV 44k
Definition: fā-‘i-lā-tun fa-‘i-lā-tun fa-‘i-lā-tun fā-‘i-lun
　bas nah kar dunyā kī ae ṣāḥib-e idrāk hawas/ khāk hī khāk hai sab khāk kī kyā khāk hawas//
　baghiyāṅ nūr kī taiyār kar ae bū-e saman/ keh hawā khānē kō niklēṅgē jawānān-e caman//
　ṣubuḥ-dam maiṅ nē jō lī bistar-e gul par karwaṭ/ junbish-e bād-e bahārī sē gaī nīnd ucaṭ//

Sample 2: muẓāre‘ muthamman akhrab makfūf WAV 44k
Definition: maf-‘ū-l fā-‘i-lā-t ma-fā-‘ī-l fā-‘i-lun
　gālī sahī adā sahī cīn-e jabīṅ sahī
　yeh sab sahī par ēk nahīṅ kī nahīṅ sahī

Sample 3: jadīd musaddas WAV 44k
Definition: fa-‘i-lā-tun fa-‘i-lā-tun ma-fā-‘i-lun
　mujhē ḥāṣil hō jō ṭuk bhī farāgh-e dil
　to rahē kyōṅ t̤apish-o-dard-o-dāgh-e dil

Sample 4: hindī wazn (16 mātrās) WAV 44k
Definition: fe‘-lun fe‘-lun fā-‘i fa-‘ū-lun
fā-‘i fa-‘ū-lun fe‘-lun fe‘-lun
fe‘-lun fā-‘i fa-‘ū-lun fe‘-lun
fa-‘ū-lun fā-‘i fe‘-lun fe‘-lun

is duniyā mēṅ āē haiṅ jab sē
cīn nahīṅ hai mut̤laq tab sē
yūṅ tō hāth nahīṅ kuch ānā
banēgā yāṅ sē khālī jānā

hazaj musaddas akhrab

Definition: maf-‘ū-l ma-fā-‘i-lun fa-‘ū-lun
A sample from Pandit Dayā Shankar Nasīm (1811-1843)’s works WAV 44k
　zanjīr-e junūṅ kaṛī nah paṛiyō
　dīwānē kā pāōṅ darmiyāṅ hai

dohā chand

Definition: fa‘-al fā-‘i fa‘-al / fa‘-al fa-‘ū-lun fā‘
fe‘-lun fe‘-lun fā-‘i-lun / fa‘-al fa-‘ū-lun fā‘
A sample from Naz̤īr (1740-1830)’s works WAV 44k
　birah āg tan mēṅ lagī jaran lagē sab gāt
　nāṛī chuāt bēd kē paṛē phaphōlē pāt

Tradition and New Trends in Urdu Prosody
Modern to Contemporary Era

Poets started ambitious experiments in the 20th century. Ḥalī, Āzād and Ismā‘īl Meraṭhī established the foundations of modern poetry, tried metrical experiments, and new genres emerged. The process started shortly before 1857 and it proceeded further with the rise of the British rulers. New changes came into existence by the influence of western civilization. Literature is closely related with the society. The meeting of poets under Anjuman Punjab is the first step in this connection. The new genres such as free verse, poem, canto, sonnet and stanza are found in the Urdu composition of this period. On the other hand, a change took place in the existing prosodic system of well-established genres. Tājwar, Najīb Ābādī, Naz̤m T̤abāt̤abāī (1852-1933), Iqbāl and Ἁz̤mat Ullāh Khān (1887-1927) are the pioneers of the change. The main principle of their experiment was of two kinds; change in the prevalent rhythm of old genres, and metrical experiments in new genres.

muẓāre‘ muthamman akhrab makfūf WAV 44k

Definition: maf-‘ū-l fā-‘i-lā-t ma-fā-‘ī-l fā-‘i-lun
calnā voh bādalōṅ kā zamīṅ cūm cūm kar
aur uṭhnā āsmāṅ kī t̤araf jhūm jhūm kar
bijilī kō dēkhō ātī hai kyā kaundtī huī
sabzē kō ṭhanḍī ṭhanḍī hawā raundtī huī

The metre used by ‘Az̤mat Ullāh Khān WAV 44k

Definition: fe‘-l fa-‘ū-lun fā‘ fa-‘ū-lun
fe‘-l fa-‘ū-lun fe‘-lun fa-‘ū-lun
　pawan kā jhakaṛ mēnh kā tarīṛā
　pawan kā gānā voh sā'iṅ sā'iṅ
　bijilī nāpē thāp garaj kī
　mēnh nē chēṛ diyā shād

The metre used by Iqbāl (1877-1938): 27 moras WAV 44k

Definition: fe‘-lun fe‘-lun fe‘-lun fe‘-lun fe‘-lun fe‘-lun fā‘
　rūmī badlē shāmī badlē badlā hindustān
　tū bhī ae farzand-e kōhistāṅ apnī khūdī pahcān

The metre used by Taṣadduq WAV 44k

Definition: fe‘-lun fa-‘ū-lun fe‘-lun fa-‘ū-lun
fe‘-lun fa-‘ū-lun
fe‘-lun fa-‘ū-lun
fe‘-lun fa-‘ū-lun

　pattōṅ kē jhūmar phūlōṅ kē gahnē
　maiṅ nē bhī pahnē
　ab maiṅ hī maiṅ hūṅ
　ik tīr ban kar ākāsh kī simt uṛnē lagā hūṅ
Definition: fe‘-lun fe‘-lun fe‘-lun fe‘-lun fā‘ fa-‘ū-lun fā‘ fa-‘ū-l
fā‘ fa-‘ū-lun fā‘ fa-‘ū-lun
fe‘-lun fe‘-lun fe‘-lun WAV 44k

bādal kālē kālē ōj faẓā mēṅ ṭahrē huē
dilōṅ nē jaisē ḍērē ḍālē hōṅ
tārīkī mēṅ tārīkī

The metre used by Dr. Tāthīr WAV 44k

Definition: fa-‘ū-lun fa-‘ū-lun fa-‘ū-lun fa-‘ū-lun
fa-‘ū-lun fa-‘ū-lun
fa-‘ū-lun fa-‘ū-lun
fa-‘ū-lun fa-‘ū-lun fa-‘ū-lun

　bahār āfrīnā gunahgār haiṅ ham
　dhuāṅ dhār mizh gāṅ
　sitārāh sī ānkhēṅ
　jawānī sē shādāb lab bhīgē bhīgē

A sample from Mīrājī’s works WAV 44k

Definition: fa-‘ū-lun fa-‘ū-lun

fa-‘ū-lun fa-‘ū-lun fa‘
　yeh sargōshiyāṅ kah rahī haiṅ ab āō
　keh barsōṅ sē tum kō bulātē bulātē
　merē dil peh gahrī thakan chā rahī hai

The metre used by Rāshid

The metre used by Majīd Amjad

The metre used by Jā‘far T̤āhir

Sample 1: sarsī chand WAV 44k
　ḍhaknī sē ik shahr ḍhakā aur ḍhakkā keh jis kā nām
　sīs nawāē sūraj rājah rōj karē parnām

Sample 2 WAV 44k
Definition: fa-‘ū-l fe‘-lun fa-‘ū-l fe‘-lun fa-‘ū-l fe‘-lun fa-‘ū-l fe‘-lun fa-‘ū-l fe‘-lun
fa-‘ū-l fe‘-lun fa-‘ū-l fe‘-lun fa-‘ū-l fe‘-lun fa-‘ū-l fe‘-lun fa-‘ū-l fe‘-lun
　sawād-e a‘ẓam kē sīnāh-e sakht par sisaktī huī siyah būnd dēkhtē hō
　isī kō ab dēkhtē rahō
　is kī surmaī sarsarāhaṭōṅ par nigāh rakhō

The metre used by Wārith Shāh’s Hīr WAV 44k

Definition: fe‘-lun fā‘i fa-‘ū-lun fe‘-lun fe‘-lun

tērī bazm mēṅ ānē sē ae jānāṅ
ānē wālōṅ kē bakht shitāb camkē

The metre used by Mukhtār Ṣiddiqī WAV 44k

Definition: fā-‘i-lā-tun fe‘-lun
fā-‘i-lā-tun fe‘-lun fe‘-lun fā‘
fā-‘i-lā-tun fe‘-lun fa-‘i-lā-tun fa-‘i-lā-tun
fā-‘i-lā-tun fe‘-lun fa-‘i-lā-tun fa-‘i-lā-tun fe‘-lun fā‘
fā-‘i-lā-tun fe‘-lun fa-‘i-lā-tun fa-‘i-lā-tun fe‘-lun fā‘ fa-‘i-lā-tun
 raushnī tēz huī
 raushnī tēz huī sham‘ōṅ kī
 raushnī tēz huī sham‘ōṅ kī fānūsōṅ kī
 raushnī tēz huī sham‘ōṅ kī fānūsōṅ kī aur shab kī dulhan
 raushnī tēz huī sham‘ōṅ kī fānūsōṅ kī aur shab kī dulhaṅ sharmā'ī


Reference
Muḥammad Aslam Ẓiyā, ‘Ilm-e ‘Arūẓ aur Urdū Shā‘irī, Islāmābād:    National Language Authority, 1997.
* Editor’s note: In preparing this chapter, we had many questions regarding transliteration, because short vowels in Urdu are not written in the script and we could not confirm the exact pronunciation of early Urdu. However, for the convenience of scansion, we tentatively transliterated original Urdu script into alphabet with the kind help of Takamitsu Matsumura and Makoto Kitada.