A takhallus (, , ), is a pen-name. Pen names were widely adopted by Urdu, Punjabi, Hindi and Persian poets. Takhallus is an Arabic word which means, literally, "to get liberated" or "become secure;" the word has been borrowed in Hindi-Urdu and Punjabi to mean "pen name". The takhallus is often included in the maqta, last sher (couplet), of the ghazal. History While ghazal originated in Arabia evolving from Qasida, some of the common features of contemporary ghazal, such as including the takhallus in the maqta, the concept of matla, etc., did not exist in Arabic ghazal. It was Persian ghazal which added these features. Common Takhallus List of Takhallus of some Urdu poets: Ghalib – Mirza Asadullah Baig Khan Faiz – Faiz Ahmed Faiz Hali – Altaf Hussain Hali Jigar - Sikander Ali Moradabadi Kaki - Khwaja Qutbuddin Bakhtiar Zafar - Bahadur Shah II Mir - Mir Taqi Mir List of Takhallus of some Persian poets: "Ilyas Qadri" (Attar) "Hafez" "Jami" "Khamushn" (Rumi) Rumi for example: baya janaan inayat kun, tu maulana-e-rumi ra ghulam-e-shams tabrezam, qalandarwaar mi gardam 'Sadi "Ashfaq Attari" (Fani Badayuni)'' See also List of Urdu-language poets Urdu poetry References External links Urdu-language poetry