Sheikh Ibrahim Zauq
Poet

Sheikh Ibrahim Zauq

Urdu1790 – 1854DelhiGhazalQasida
9
Ghazals
9
Total Works
heikh Ibrahim Zauq (1790–1854) was one of the most celebrated Urdu poets of nineteenth-century Delhi and served as the poet laureate of the Mughal court under Bahadur Shah Zafar. Renowned as the ustad (mentor) of the emperor himself, he was a master of the ghazal and the qasida, admired for his polished diction and command of language. His verse embodies the refined classical tradition of the Delhi school at its height.
Key Works

Zauq is remembered for his masterful ghazals and ceremonial qasidas composed for the Mughal court. Verses such as "hangama garm hasti-e-napaedaar ka" and "naam yun pasti mein baala-tar hamaara ho gaya" reflect his meditations on the impermanence of life and the paradoxes of fortune. Much of his work was tragically lost in the upheaval following 1857, yet the surviving poems continue to be read and recited.

Style & Influence

Trained in the classical Delhi tradition, Zauq was celebrated for his command of chaste Urdu idiom, grammatical precision, and rhetorical polish. His emphasis on linguistic correctness and craftsmanship often placed him in a famous poetic rivalry with his contemporary Mirza Ghalib. His qasidas in particular display formal grandeur suited to courtly occasion.

Recognition

As the official poet laureate of Bahadur Shah Zafar and tutor to the emperor, Zauq held one of the highest honors available to a poet of his age. His legacy endures in the Urdu literary canon as a defining voice of the late Mughal Delhi school.

Ghazals
In the archive
hangama garm hasti-e-napaedaar ka
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hona aashiq sach kar is dushman-e-imaan ka
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hum hain aur saaya tire kuche ki deewaron ka
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kisi bekas ko use bedaad-gar maara to kya maara
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main hijr mein marne ke qarin ho hi chuka tha
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naalaa is zor se kyuun miir adhaaii detaa
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naam yun pasti mein baala-tar hamaara ho gaya
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paani tabeeb de hai hamein kya bujha hua
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us se to aur aag wo bedard ho gaya
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Frequently Asked Questions

What is Sheikh Ibrahim Zauq known for?+

Sheikh Ibrahim Zauq is one of the great masters of Urdu and Hindi poetry. Their ghazals and shers explore themes of love, longing, philosophy, and the deeper questions of existence with unmatched depth and beauty.

How many ghazals by Sheikh Ibrahim Zauq are on Sukhan AI?+

Sukhan AI's archive includes 9+ ghazals and couplets by Sheikh Ibrahim Zauq, available to read in English, Hindi, and Urdu.

Can I listen to Sheikh Ibrahim Zauq's shers with audio?+

Yes. AI-generated audio recitations of Sheikh Ibrahim Zauq's shers are available in the public library. On any sher page, if a play button appears, you can listen directly on the web.

How do I understand the meaning of Sheikh Ibrahim Zauq's shers?+

Every sher page on Sukhan AI includes meanings and explanations in Hindi and English. The mobile app adds AI-generated audio meanings and full literary explainers.

What themes appear in Sheikh Ibrahim Zauq's poetry?+

Sheikh Ibrahim Zauq's poetry spans themes of love (ishq), pain (dard), philosophy, life, and spiritual longing. Use Sukhan AI's mood filter to explore their shers by emotional theme.