Ghazal: Definition and Structure

Ghazal: Definition and Structure

• A lyric poem with a fixed number of verses and a repeated rhyme, typically on the theme of love, and normally set to music.
• Consists of couplets, where each couplet ends on the same word or phrase, known as the radif.
• The radif is preceded by the couplet's rhyming word, known as the qafia, which often appears twice in the first couplet.

Traditional Rules

• The opening couplet is called a Matla.
• The last one or two words of every couplet must be exactly the same (in some cases, approximate similarity is allowed).
• In the first couplet, both lines must end with the same one or two words.
• The poem should be considered as a whole.

Radif and Rhyme

• The second last word in every couplet should retain the same rhyme as every other couplet.
• The radif is a key element in a ghazal, providing a sense of unity and musicality.

Conclusion and Maqta

• A ghazal ends with the poet's name or a signature, known as the Maqta.
• The ghazal is considered a "Noble" form of poetry.