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{{short description|Poet laureate of the Mughal Court in Delhi}}
{{more citations needed|date=August 2018}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Infobox writer 
| name = Muhammad Ibrahim Zauq
| image = Muhammad Ibrahim Zauq.jpg
| imagesize = 200px
| caption =
| pseudonym = Zauq
| birth_date = {{birth year|1790}}
| birth_place = [[Delhi]]
| death_date = November 1854 <ref>Encyclopedia of Islam, Vol I, Printed Lahore 1964</ref>
| death_place = Delhi, [[Mughal Empire]]
| occupation = Poet
| nationality = [[Mughal India]]n
| period = 1837-1857
| genre = [[Ghazal]], [[qasida]], [[mukhammas]]
| subject = Love
| movement =
| signature =
| website =
}}

Sheikh '''Muhammad Ibrahim Zauq''' (1790–1854) was an [[Urdu]] poet and scholar of literature, poetry and religion. He wrote poetry under ''nom de plume'' "'''Zauq'''", and was appointed [[poet laureate]] of the [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] Court in Delhi just at the age of 19. Later he was given the title of ''Khaqani-e-Hind'' (The [[Khaqani]] of India) by the last Mughal emperor and his disciple Bahadur Shah Zafar.<ref name=pahar/>

He was a poor youth, with only ordinary education, who went on to acquire learning in history, theology and [[poetics]] in his later years. Zauq was a prominent contemporary of [[Mirza Ghalib|Ghalib]] and in the history of [[Urdu poetry]] the rivalry of the two poets is quite well known. During his lifetime Zauq was more popular than Ghalib for the critical values in those days were mainly confined to judging a piece of poetry on the basis of usage of words, phrases and [[idiom]]s. Content and style were not much taken into account while appreciating poetry.

==Early life==
Zauq was born at Delhi in 1790. His father, Sheikh Muhammad Ramzan was a lowly placed soldier in the [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] army.

It was no less than a miracle that Zauq, without having the proper treatment on account of the penury of his family, survived the attack of a dreaded malady like [[smallpox]] during his childhood.

His father had no means to equip his son with the best available education of the time. He was sent to a [[Maktab (education)|maktab]] (elementary religious school) that was run by Hafiz Ghulam Rasool. Hafiz himself was a poet and used Shauq as his [[nom de plume]]. Under his influence the young Muhammad Ibrahim also got attracted towards poetry. Hafiz provided the required encouragement, took him as his pupil in poetry too and suggested Zauq as his nom de plume.

Though Zauq could not complete the course of the maktab, he got hooked to poetry. In those days Shah Naseer was the most famous master poet of Delhi. Zauq began showing his ghazals to Shah Naseer for improvement. Naseer recognised the natural talent and made him his pupil. Gradually, Zauq began participating in the [[mushaira]]s. His natural bent of mind towards poetry coupled with his singular obsession to excel in the pursuit brought him fame and fortune. He would be better appreciated in the mushairas than his mentor. Shah Naseer got very annoyed with the growing popularity of Zauq. He threw him out of the group of his pupils. Zauq, thereafter, relied only on his talent and continued writing poetry with a vengeance.

Another poet, [[Meer Kazim Husain Beqarar]], a friend of Zauq's was appointed the mentor of the Crown Prince [[Bahadur Shah Zafar|Zafar]], who later ascended the throne. Through him Zauq could get the chance to enter the royal court. He also started participating in the royal mushairas. When Beqarar took up the job of Meer Munshi (Head Clerk) in the Office of [[John Elphinstone]], [[Bahadur Shah II|Crown Prince Zafar]] appointed Zauq as his mentor with a monthly salary of Rs. 4 that was ultimately raised to Rs. 100 when [[Bahadur Shah Zafar]] ascended the throne. He remained the poet laureate of the Mughal Court till his death in 1854.

==Career==
[[File:Mazaar of Sheikh Mohammad Ibrahim Zauq.jpg|thumb|180px|Mazaar of Sheikh Mohammad Ibrahim Zauq in [[Paharganj]], Delhi]]
Zauq's reputation in [[Urdu poetry]] is because of his [[eulogy|eulogies]] that reflect his command over the language and his expertise in composing poetry in extremely difficult [[Meter (poetry)|meters]]. Since he got associated with the royal court right from his teens and remained there till his death, he had to write mostly eulogies to seek the [[patronage]] and rewards from the princes and the King. His [[mentor]], Shah Naseer, would also pay attention only to the linguistic eloquence and mastery over [[Prosody (linguistics)|prosody]]. Zauq also emulated the example of his mentor. Such style of poetry suits eulogy writing. Many critics regard him a great eulogy writer next only to [[Mirza Rafi Sauda|Sauda]].

His ghazals also have some literary value. Since Bahadur Shah Zafar was fond of using simple and [[colloquial]] diction, Zauq too composed his ghazals using simple words, phrases of everyday use and similes rooted in the common culture. His ghazals are also notable for their spontaneity. Zauq was a deeply religious man. In his ghazals too he would deal with religious and ethical themes. Therefore, his ghazals lack [[Lyric poetry|lyricism]] and appear to be the [[Verse (poetry)|verses]] of a preacher.

Zauq died in 1854, and today his grave lies in a bylanes of [[Paharganj]], Delhi. His grave was restored after the Supreme Court orders in early 2000s, but his home in nearby ''Nabi Karim'' area, was never identified.<ref name=pahar>{{cite news |title=In the lanes of Zauq and Ghalib |url=http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/in-the-lanes-of-zauq-and-ghalib/434583/ |publisher=[[Indian Express]] |date=15 March 2009 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120121091428/http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/in-the-lanes-of-zauq-and-ghalib/434583/ |archivedate=21 January 2012 }}</ref>

==Legacy==
Major portion of Zauq's poetical output got lost because of [[Indian Rebellion of 1857|mutiny of 1857]]. Maulana Muhammad Hussain Azad compiled a slim volume of his poetry with the help of his pupils like Hafiz, Veeran, Anwar and Zaheer that contains twelve hundred couplets of Ghazals and fifteen Eulogies. Even though much of his work was lost, he left behind a legacy of [[ghazal]], [[qasida]], and [[mukhammas]].

==Genre==
The qasida was his special forte. Zauq's [[idiom]]s were homely, but no one has a greater number of signal phrases memorable for thought or music. His [[language]] was polished and his [[diction]] elegant. He used several styles successfully and, though not as great a thinker as [[Mirza Ghalib]], had a more melodious flow of language. Zauq never tried to become like ghalib, but had a different image.

==In popular culture==
*In literature
**Zauq is frequently mentioned in poetries of Ghalib. His rivalry is mentioned in Deewan-e-ghalib.
**A poem titled 'Zauq' by poet-diplomat [[Abhay K]] tries to tell Zauq's side of story vis a vis his arch-rival [[Ghalib]].<ref>[http://caravanmagazine.in/poetry/dara-shikoh-and-other-poems Dara Shikoh and Other Poems] The Caravan, May 2014</ref>
*In Television
**Zauq is played by [[Shafi Inamdar]] in the Television series [[Mirza Ghalib]] Directed by [[Gulzar]].

== References ==

<references />

==External links==
* [http://www.urducl.com/Urdu-Books/969-416-207-003/ Deewan-e-Zauq (Read Online)]
*[https://rekhta.org/poets/sheikh-ibrahim-zauq/ Urdu Shayari of Ibrahim Zauq]
*[http://www.anindianmuslim.com/2008/04/great-poets-series-zauq-and-his-urdu.html Zauq's profile, poetry and selected couplets]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Zauq, Muhammad Ibrahim}}
[[Category:1789 births]]
[[Category:1854 deaths]]
[[Category:19th-century Indian poets]]
[[Category:Urdu-language poets]]
[[Category:Poets from Delhi]]
[[Category:Urdu-language religious writers]]
[[Category:Urdu-language writers from British India]]
[[Category:19th-century Urdu-language writers]]
[[Category:Urdu-language writers from Mughal India]]
[[Category:Indian male poets]]
[[Category:19th-century Indian male writers]]

Mohammad Ibrahim Zauq - Revision history

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