Shaikh Ibrahim Zauq

Biography

Shaikh Ibrahim Zauq was one of the leading poets of 19th-century Delhi and a towering figure in classical Urdu poetry. Born in 1789, he rose from humble beginnings to become the official poet laureate in the court of the last Mughal emperor, Bahadur Shah Zafar. His command over Urdu and Persian, coupled with his deep knowledge of Islamic theology, gave his poetry a scholarly strength that distinguished him from his contemporaries.

Zauq excelled particularly in the ghazal and qasida. His ghazals often reflected elegance, moral thought, and linguistic purity, while his qasidas displayed grandeur and literary richness. His position at the Mughal court earned him the prestigious title Malik-ul-Shuara. Despite facing rivalry with other poets of his time, including the celebrated Mirza Ghalib, Zauq held a strong place in the cultural and literary gatherings of Delhi.

He remained attached to the Mughal court until his death in 1854. Zauq’s poetry is remembered for its classical diction, refinement, and balance of thought and expression. Though some of his works were lost in the turmoil of 1857, the surviving collections still showcase his brilliance as a master of Urdu verse.