Urdu Ghazal aur Karbala is a literary and poetic study that brings together two rich cultural and emotional traditions:
1. Urdu Ghazal as a Poetic Form
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The ghazal is one of the finest and most beloved poetic forms in Urdu literature, typically composed of couplets (each able to stand alone) linked by rhythm, mood, and theme. Traditionally ghazals explore themes of love, loss, longing, spiritual longing, and existential reflection.
2. The Tragedy of Karbala
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Karbala refers to the historic Battle of Karbala (680 CE) in Iraq, where Imam Hussain (the grandson of Prophet Muhammad) and his followers were martyred. This event is central to Islamic memory and particularly to the Urdu poetic tradition of elegy, lament (noha/soaz), and marsiya.
What the Book Does
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The author examines how Urdu ghazal — a form normally associated with love, separation, and other human emotions — has been used by Urdu poets to reflect on the theme of Karbala — its tragedy, sacrifice, and spiritual symbolism.
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Instead of purely traditional elegiac poetry (like marsiya or noha), this book shows how poets—across different times, schools, and even beliefs—invoke the metaphor of Karbala within the ghazal form to express deeper philosophical, emotional, and spiritual insights.
Purpose and Approach
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Allama Zameer Akhtar Naqvi brings a literary and thematic exploration of ghazals in relation to Karbala, showing how the tragedy has inspired or been reflected in Urdu ghazal poetry.
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The work highlights that the imagery, symbolism, and emotional depth associated with Karbala resonate beyond strictly religious elegy and can be found in broader poetic expressions of loss, struggle, devotion, sacrifice, and redemption within Urdu ghazals.
In Summary
Urdu Ghazal aur Karbala is not just a collection of poems — it is a study of how one of Urdu’s most cherished art forms (the ghazal) intersects with the collective memory of Karbala’s tragedy and meaning. It reveals the influence of profound historical and spiritual events on literary expression, showing how poets use ghazal to echo themes of suffering, loyalty, courage, and faith.
