Published by Hachette, on Amazon.in and in bookstores across India.

This is such an amazing initiative! This is a great collection of Urdu poetry which has been made accessible to everybody.

— Aditi Rao Hydari, Actor

1 Urdu couplets and shers with shikva

shikva(m): complaint

Description of shikva: Shikva means a formal complaint, grievance, or lament expressed poetically, often to a beloved or the divine about perceived neglect or injustice. Unlike a casual protest, it carries emotional depth and rhetorical elegance rooted in classical Urdu tradition. Differs from mere whining by invoking moral or spiritual accountability through eloquent verse. In poetry, Allama Iqbal's Shikwa voices Muslims' lament to Allah for lost glory.

1 / 1: shikva

na kar 'sauda' tu shikva hum se dil ki beqaraari ka

mohabbat kis ko deti hai, miyaan,

aaraam sukoon duniya mein?

don't complain, sauda,

about your heart's restlessness

for whom has love given

peace and quiet in this world?

Mohammad Rafi Sauda (7)

shikva (m) (1)

complaint

dil (m) (109)

heart

beqaraari (f) (2)

restlessness

mohabbat (f) (41)

love

miyaan (m) (2)

my friend

aaraam (m) (3)

rest

sukoon (m) (6)

comfort, peace

duniya (m) (25)

world

Theme: Love, Passion, and Longing (113)

2.3K

Featured Themes

Heart, Mind, & Memory (66)

Oppression, Rebellion, & Freedom (61)

Life, Learning, & Living (127)

Love, Passion, and Longing (113)

Hopes, Aspirations, & Dreams (37)

Loneliness, Separation, & Grief (118)

Friends, Family, & Community (139)

Grit, Resilience, & Courage (58)

Quest, Journey, & Destination (54)

Creativity, Philosophy, & Enlightenment (40)

Voice, Expression, & Language (78)

Home, Country, & Belonging (30)

Nature, World & Universe (50)

Religion, Reason, & Tradition (70)

Beauty, Charm, & Union (109)

Miscellany (44)

Alfaaz Ki Mehfil is a curated space for timeless poetry celebrating words, emotions, and the enduring beauty of expression. From classic Urdu couplets to modern reflections, it brings together generations of poetic voices that speak of love, longing, hope, and the human soul.

Quick Links

shikva(m): complaint

Featured Shaayars

See All Shaayars

Featured Themes