The first couplet of 'Gazal' is called:

Question

Accepted Answer

The correct option is 1:
The term for the first couplet of a *Ghazal* is indeed the **Matla**. The *Matla* (meaning 'the place of rising' or 'dawn') is the foundational couplet that sets the entire rhyming and metrical pattern for the whole poem. In a structurally perfect *Ghazal*, both lines (*misras*) of the *Matla* must rhyme with each other and must strictly adhere to the *qafia* (rhyme) and *radeef* (refrain). This initial couplet establishes the necessary framework which is then followed by the rhyming second line of every subsequent couplet in the poem. The artistry of the *Ghazal* often begins with a powerful and captivating *Matla* to draw the reader in, serving as the poem's introduction and tonal declaration.

The incorrect option is 2:
**Radeef** is a critical component of the *Ghazal*'s rhyming scheme, but it is not the couplet itself. The *Radeef* is the word or short phrase that is consistently and immediately repeated after the *qafia* (rhyme) at the end of the second line of every couplet, and also at the end of both lines of the *Matla*. Its function is that of a fixed refrain, providing a musicality and structural consistency, which is distinct from the two-line stanza (*sher*). In simple terms, it is the repeating fixed element that follows the main rhyme. Therefore, while crucial to the *Ghazal*'s composition, it is a word pattern, not the opening couplet.

The incorrect option is 3:
The **Maqta** (meaning 'the place of cutting off' or 'end') is the exact opposite of the first couplet. It specifically refers to the final or concluding couplet of the *Ghazal*. Its main distinguishing feature is the traditional inclusion of the poet's pen-name, or *Takhallus*, within its lines. Therefore, while it is a type of couplet, its definitive placement at the very end of the poem makes it structurally incorrect to be the *first* couplet. The *Maqta* provides the concluding flourish and signature to the poem's themes, serving as the valediction.

The incorrect option is 4:
**Takhallus** refers to the nom de plume or pen-name adopted by the poet, such as 'Ghalib' or 'Mir'. This name is an identity marker for the author, not a structural part of the poem like a couplet or a rhyme scheme. The convention is that the *Takhallus* is typically woven into the *Maqta*, or the final couplet, as a kind of signature, allowing the poet to address themselves or simply sign off. Thus, it refers to the poet's name, not the opening couplet itself.