21 Best Urdu Poems Of All Time (Top Urdu Shayaris)

21 Best Urdu Poems Of All Time (Top Urdu Shayaris)

Urdu as a language has always mesmerized people with its beautiful words. In today’s world, Urdu is used in a variety of forms; one of the prime examples is Bollywood songs.

Similarly, Urdu poetry/shayari is known to catch your imagination and evoke the poet in you. It can pull out any kind of emotion in you through its wordings. In this article, I’ll list a total of 21 famous Urdu poems of all time along with the name of the poet.

If you’re reading this, it is rest assured you have a liking towards Urdu shayaris/poems, isn’t it?

Let’s check them out:

21 best Urdu poems of all time (top Urdu shayaris)

1. Haathon Ki Lakeeron Pe Mat Ja Ghalib – Mirza Ghalib

Known to be one of the greats in terms of Urdu and Persian poetry, Mirza Ghalib was a popular poet of his times. Born in 1797 in Agra, he went on to be the poet tutor of Bahadur Shah Zafar. There are tons of Urdu poems that he has written, but ‘Haathon Ki Lakeeron’ occupies one of the top spots.

Here’s the full Urdu Shayari –

Mirza Ghalib Urdu Poem

2. Kyun Darein Zindagi Mein Kya Hoga – Javed Akhtar

Javed Akhtar has been in the Bollywood industry for a while now as a lyricist. However, he has a long list of Urdu poems that you should check out. Kyun darein zindagi mein kya hoga is one of his finest poems and an eternal classic.

Javed Akhtar Poem

3. Hoshwalon Ko Khabar Kya Bekhudi Kya Cheez Hai – Nida Fazli

This might ring a bell to your ears as the lyrics were used for one of the songs from the movie Sarfarosh. Awarded the Padma Shri in 2013, Nida Fazli was a famous Urdu poet, lyricist, and his wordings are still loved by people.

Nida Fazli quote

4. Lakeerein Hai To Rehne Do – Gulzar

Another prominent lyricist and someone who’s been delivering us classic Urdu poems is Gulzar. Having written the lyrics of numerous Bollywood songs, Gulzar Sahab strikes Gold with his magical Urdu words.

Gulzar Shayari

5. Kisi Ko Ghar Mila Hisse Mein Ya Koi Dukaan Aaye – Munawwar Rana

This is a touching Urdu poem by Munawwar Rana about his mother. Additionally, he won the Sahitya Akademi Award for Urdu literature in 2014.

Munawwar Rana Quote

6. Ibtidaa-E-Ishq Hain Rota Hai Kya – Mir Taqi Mir

Mir Taqi Mir was an Urdu poet during the 18th century in India and he’s said to be one of the pioneers who gave shape to the Urdu Language.

Mir Taqi Mir Urdu Quote

7. Ishq Nazuk Mizaj Hai Behad – Akbar Allahabadi

This is an excellent poem with the magic or Urdu verses about love with a pinch of sarcasm and harmless mockery. Give it a read down below –

Akbar Allahabadi Shayari

8. Ek Naam Kya Likha Tera Sahil Ki Ret Par – Parveen Shakir

There have been fewer female Urdu poets as compared to their male counterparts. However, Parveen Shakir has her scintillating verse that does the talking with a list of Urdu poems in her armory.

Praveen Shakir Urdu Quote

9. Bulati Hai Magar Jaane Ka Nahi – Rahat Indori

This poem became an instant hit among the youth, thanks to social media. The powerful words in Urdu by the late Rahat Indori give you a life lesson.

You can check out the full poem below –

Rahat Indori Shayari

10. Kabhi Main Apne Haathon Ki Lakeeron – Bashir Badr

An Indian poet who specialized in the Urdu language, Bashir Badr has also been part of the teaching staff of Aligarh Muslim University. He has outstanding knowledge of Urdu poetry, and he has also written ghazals.

Bashir Badr Urdu Poem

11. Aur Bhi Dukh Hai Zamaane Mein Mohabbat Ke Siwa – Faiz Ahmed Faiz

If you’re an ardent fan of heartbreak-related poetry, Faiz Sahab strikes the right chord with his Urdu words. He was a legend in Pakistan with his majestic writings and one surely one of the greats.

Faiz Ahmed Urdu Poetry

12. Jahaan Rahega Wahi Raushni Lutaega – Waseem Barelvi

Waseem Barelvi hails from the state of Uttar Pradesh. Apart from being a popular Urdu poet, many of his ghazals were sung by the late Jagjit Singh.

Waseem Barelvi Urdu Poetry

13. Arz-O-Samaa Kahaa Teri Vusat Ko Paa Sake – Khwaja Mir Dard

Khwaja Mir Dard was one of the notable Urdu poets hailing from Delhi during the 18th century. This poem is surely one of my top picks as his words bring a sense of romance to his verses in Urdu.

Khwaja Mir Poetry

14. Itne Khaamosh Bhi Raha Na Karo, Ghum Judaai Mein Yun Kiya Na Karo – Munir Niazi

Munir Niazi Sahab delivers one of the best shayaris I have come across. Apart from being a popular poet from Pakistan, he used to even write for newspapers and magazines.

Munir Niazi Poem

15. Gham Aur Khushi Mein Farq Na Mahsus Ho – Sahir Ludhianvi

Sahir Ludhianvi was an Indian poet and a song lyricist as well. Due to his magical writings, he won the Filmfare Award for the best lyricist for the Taj Mahal.

Sahir Ludhianvi Poetry

16. Koi Ibadat Ki Chah Mein Roya, Koi Ibadat Ki Raah Mein Roya – Allama Iqbal

Having known to be one of the prominent figures of Persian and Urdu literature, he is regarded as the national poet of Pakistan.

Allama Iqbal Urdu Shayari

17. Mere Lafzon Ki Pehchaan Kar Leta Wo – Ahmad Faraz

It is a deep poem that talks about self-love. Such fascinating Urdu words can make you fall in love with the language. Ahmad Faraz nails this with his writing skills.

Ahmad Faraz Poetry

18. Waqt Ne Kiya Kya Haseen Sitam – Kaifi Azmi

Remember this dialogue from Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani? It was the wordings of Kaifi Azmi, who was a big name who introduced Urdu literature to motion movies.

Kaifi Azmi Quote

19. Kya Karu Zindagi Ke Baare Mein – Jaun Elia

Jaun Elia was popular for his unconventional ways of presenting a poem with a unique style. After the 1947 partition, he migrated to Pakistan.

Nazeer Akbarabadi Urdu Quote

20. Tu Jo Kal Aane Ko Kehta Hai – Nazeer Akbarabadi

Hailed as the Father of Nazm, he had a wide range in his poems and ghazals too.

21. Bada Maza Ho Jo Mahshar Mein Hum Karen Shikva – Daagh Dehlvi

Most of Daagh Dehlvi’s work revolved around romance and sensuous poems. This particular poem is no different as well.

Daagh Dehlvi Quote

People also ask

1. What is a poem called in Urdu?

It is called Nazm.

2. What is a 6-line poem called in Urdu?

It is generally referred to as Marsiya with a rhyming quatrain.

3. Who is the Father of Urdu Poems?

Amir Khusro

4. Is Urdu older than Hindi?

Hindi is an older language as it came in the 9th century, while Urdu began in the 12th century.

5. Who was the first Urdu Poet?

Amir Khusro was the first Urdu poet.

Conclusion

Urdu can be extremely attractive when you hear someone speak the language. There’s a sense of calmness and magic in those words when one speaks in Urdu. To turn you into an Urdu poet, I have displayed a list of 21 Urdu poems that you can use on someone or just learn for yourself.

You may also like – Best Hindi Writers And Poets

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