This is the metre of the poem. This can loosely thought of as the length of the sher. Both the lines of a sher MUST be of the same 'bahar' or 'metre'. Also, all the ashaar of a ghazal MUST be of the same bahar. There are 19 different metres that are used in Urdu poetry. In simple terms, they are divided into three categories - short, medium and long.

This is the first sher of a ghazal, and both lines of the sher must end in the radeef. Usually a ghazal has only one matla. If a ghazal has more than one matla, then the second matla is called 'matla-e-saani'.

A shaayar (poet) usually had a pen-name under which he wrote. The pen-name is called 'taKhallus' (takh-ul-lus). The sher in which the taKhallus is included is called the maqta. It is the last sher of the Ghazal.

The rhyming pattern of the word(s) just before the radeef at the end of the line in a sher. This is a necessary requirment, followed even in the absence of other rules.

Word or phrase that is repeated at the end of the second line in EVERY sher. The SAME word(s) are repeated. The matla has both lines ending in the radeef.

A sher is a couplet - a poem of two lines. Each couplet embodies a single thought and is complete in itself. The plural of sher is ashaar. A sher is also called a 'bait' (bay-t).

A collective term used to refer to the great masters of Urdu poetry. Most of the well known poets of Urdu fall into this category - Meer, Ghalib, Zauq, Sauda, et al.

The best sher in a ghazal. It is also called 'bait ul Ghazal'.

A line of a couplet or verse is called a misra. In a sher, the first line is called 'misra-e-oolaa' and the second line is called 'misra-e-saanii'.

A symposium or gathering of poets where they are invited to recite their poems.

The manner of reciting a poem word for word without singing.

A pen-name or nom-de-plume adopted by a poet. This is usually the name the poet is known by in the literary world.

The manner of reciting a poem in the form of a song.