Top 20 Couplets on Love
Ishq is one of the most
popular subjects in Urdu poetry. Rekhta has created a list of 20 most popular shers on Ishq. These have been selected based on the popularity as well as quality of each sher. We acknowledge that many good/better shers may not have been included in our list. Please feel free to suggest better shers in the comment section below. Our editorial team will consider those and may add to the Top 20 list, if found appropriate. Hope you enjoy the selection, furthermore, we look forward to your participation in enhancing the list.
TOP 20 SERIES
- Aadmi/Insaan Shayari
- Ada Shayari
- Akhbaar Shayari
- Angdaai Shayari
- Barish Shayari
- Chaand Shayari
- couplets of nushoor wahidi
- couplets on dua
- couplets on eyes
- couplets on love
- couplets on mirror
- couplets on seperation
- couplets on tasweer
- couplets on tears
- Dard Shayari
- Deedar Shayari
- Dhoka Shayari
- Dil Shayari
- Dost/Dosti Shayari
- Duniya Shayari
- Farewell Shayari
- Heartbreak Shayari
- Husn Shayari
- Intizaar Shayari
- Khamoshi Shayari
- Kiss Shayari
- Kitab Shayari
- Lab Shayari
- Maut Shayari
- most quoted couplets
- motivational couplets
- Mulaqat Shayari
- Muskurahat Shayari
- Phool Shayari
- Sad Shayari
- Safar Shayari
- Sharab Shayari
- Tanhai Shayari
- Top couplets on New Year
- Train Shayari
- Visaal Shayari
- Wafa Shayari
- Waqt Shayari
- Welcome Shayari
- Yaad Shayari
- Zindagi Shayari
- Zulf Shayari
ishq ne 'ġhālib' nikammā kar diyā
varna ham bhī aadmī the kaam ke
Ghalib, a worthless person, this love has made of me
otherwise a man of substance I once used to be
Interpretation:
Rekhta AI
The poet humorously yet sorrowfully confesses that the pursuit of love has consumed all his worldly potential. He reflects on his former self, claiming that before falling in love, he possessed great utility and capability, which has now been wasted away by his passion.
ishq ne 'ghaalib' nikamma kar diya
warna hum bhi aadmi the kaam ke
Ghalib, a worthless person, this love has made of me
otherwise a man of substance I once used to be
Interpretation:
Rekhta AI
The poet humorously yet sorrowfully confesses that the pursuit of love has consumed all his worldly potential. He reflects on his former self, claiming that before falling in love, he possessed great utility and capability, which has now been wasted away by his passion.
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Tags: Famous shayariand 4 more
sitāroñ se aage jahāñ aur bhī haiñ
abhī ishq ke imtihāñ aur bhī haiñ
Interpretation:
Rekhta AI
The couplet urges the seeker not to stop at visible limits: even the farthest “stars” are not the end. “Worlds beyond” symbolizes higher goals and deeper truths still to be reached. The second line frames love as a journey of continual testing—each stage brings new challenges. Emotionally, it blends hope with resolve: keep moving forward, keep proving your love.
sitaron se aage jahan aur bhi hain
abhi ishq ke imtihan aur bhi hain
Interpretation:
Rekhta AI
The couplet urges the seeker not to stop at visible limits: even the farthest “stars” are not the end. “Worlds beyond” symbolizes higher goals and deeper truths still to be reached. The second line frames love as a journey of continual testing—each stage brings new challenges. Emotionally, it blends hope with resolve: keep moving forward, keep proving your love.
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Tags: Famous shayariand 3 more
ishq par zor nahīñ hai ye vo ātish 'ġhālib'
ki lagā.e na lage aur bujhā.e na bane
One has no power over Love, it is that flame, to wit,
Which neither can be set alight, nor extinguished once lit
Interpretation:
Rekhta AI
The couplet presents love as an uncontrollable inner blaze. It arrives on its own terms and refuses to obey the lover’s will, so both starting and stopping it lie beyond human power. The metaphor of “fire” captures love’s consuming intensity and the speaker’s helpless surrender to it.
ishq par zor nahin hai ye wo aatish 'ghaalib'
ki lagae na lage aur bujhae na bane
One has no power over Love, it is that flame, to wit,
Which neither can be set alight, nor extinguished once lit
Interpretation:
Rekhta AI
The couplet presents love as an uncontrollable inner blaze. It arrives on its own terms and refuses to obey the lover’s will, so both starting and stopping it lie beyond human power. The metaphor of “fire” captures love’s consuming intensity and the speaker’s helpless surrender to it.
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Tags: Ishqand 4 more
ishq nāzuk-mizāj hai behad
aql kā bojh uThā nahīñ saktā
ishq nazuk-mizaj hai behad
aql ka bojh uTha nahin sakta
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Tags: Ishqand 2 more
koī samjhe to ek baat kahūñ
ishq taufīq hai gunāh nahīñ
if someone were to listen, one thing I will opine
Love is not a crime forsooth it is grace divine
Interpretation:
Rekhta AI
The speaker feels surrounded by misunderstanding and offers a single, clarifying truth to anyone capable of insight. By calling love “taufiq,” he frames it as a gift that elevates the heart rather than a moral offense. The couplet defends love against social or religious blame, turning accusation into spiritual dignity. Its emotional core is quiet insistence: love deserves reverence, not condemnation.
koi samjhe to ek baat kahun
ishq taufiq hai gunah nahin
if someone were to listen, one thing I will opine
Love is not a crime forsooth it is grace divine
Interpretation:
Rekhta AI
The speaker feels surrounded by misunderstanding and offers a single, clarifying truth to anyone capable of insight. By calling love “taufiq,” he frames it as a gift that elevates the heart rather than a moral offense. The couplet defends love against social or religious blame, turning accusation into spiritual dignity. Its emotional core is quiet insistence: love deserves reverence, not condemnation.
maktab-e-ishq kā dastūr nirālā dekhā
us ko chhuTTī na mile jis ko sabaq yaad rahe
maktab-e-ishq ka dastur nirala dekha
us ko chhuTTi na mile jis ko sabaq yaad rahe
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Tags: Famous shayariand 3 more
rāh-e-dūr-e-ishq meñ rotā hai kyā
aage aage dekhiye hotā hai kyā
Interpretation:
Rekhta AI
Meer Taqi Meer presents love as a long, demanding journey where early tears are premature. The speaker urges endurance, hinting that harsher trials may come later. The couplet carries a stoic, almost teasing consolation: don’t collapse at the start; love reveals its true cost as one moves forward.
rah-e-dur-e-ishq mein rota hai kya
aage aage dekhiye hota hai kya
Interpretation:
Rekhta AI
Meer Taqi Meer presents love as a long, demanding journey where early tears are premature. The speaker urges endurance, hinting that harsher trials may come later. The couplet carries a stoic, almost teasing consolation: don’t collapse at the start; love reveals its true cost as one moves forward.
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Tags: Famous shayariand 2 more
aag the ibtidā-e-ishq meñ ham
ab jo haiñ ḳhaak intihā hai ye
Interpretation:
Rekhta AI
The couplet traces love’s journey from fierce passion to total exhaustion. “Fire” stands for the lover’s early intensity and self-consuming ardor, while “ash” signals what remains after the burning—emptiness, ruin, and dissolution of the self. The emotional core is a quiet, bleak acceptance that love’s culmination can be annihilation rather than fulfillment.
aag the ibtida-e-ishq mein hum
ab jo hain KHak intiha hai ye
Interpretation:
Rekhta AI
The couplet traces love’s journey from fierce passion to total exhaustion. “Fire” stands for the lover’s early intensity and self-consuming ardor, while “ash” signals what remains after the burning—emptiness, ruin, and dissolution of the self. The emotional core is a quiet, bleak acceptance that love’s culmination can be annihilation rather than fulfillment.
ishq ik 'mīr' bhārī patthar hai
kab ye tujh nā-tavāñ se uThtā hai
love is a real burden, Miir, it is a heavy stone
how can it be lifted by a weak person alone?
Interpretation:
Rekhta AI
Meer turns love into a physical weight: a stone that must be carried or raised. Addressing himself (or a frail lover), he admits human weakness before the demands of عشق. The couplet’s pain lies in the gap between the enormity of love and the lover’s limited strength, making love feel like an impossible burden.
ishq ek 'mir' bhaari patthar hai
kab ye tujh na-tawan se uThta hai
love is a real burden, Miir, it is a heavy stone
how can it be lifted by a weak person alone?
Interpretation:
Rekhta AI
Meer turns love into a physical weight: a stone that must be carried or raised. Addressing himself (or a frail lover), he admits human weakness before the demands of عشق. The couplet’s pain lies in the gap between the enormity of love and the lover’s limited strength, making love feel like an impossible burden.
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Tags: Famous shayariand 2 more
ishq jab tak na kar chuke rusvā
aadmī kaam kā nahīñ hotā
till love does not cause him disgrace
in this world man has no place
ishq jab tak na kar chuke ruswa
aadmi kaam ka nahin hota
till love does not cause him disgrace
in this world man has no place
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Tags: Ishqand 2 more
jazba-e-ishq salāmat hai to inshā-allāh
kachche dhāge se chale ā.eñge sarkār bañdhe
jazba-e-ishq salamat hai to insha-allah
kachche dhage se chale aaenge sarkar bandhe
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Tags: Famous shayariand 2 more
saḳht kāfir thā jin ne pahle 'mīr'
maz.hab-e-ishq iḳhtiyār kiyā
Interpretation:
Rekhta AI
Meer presents love as a “religion” that overturns fixed identities. The paradox is that even the hardest “kafir” ends up surrendering first when true love arrives. The couplet suggests that love’s power is greater than formal creeds, because it transforms denial into devotion. Emotionally, it carries wonder and quiet pride at love’s converting force.
saKHt kafir tha jin ne pahle 'mir'
mazhab-e-ishq iKHtiyar kiya
Interpretation:
Rekhta AI
Meer presents love as a “religion” that overturns fixed identities. The paradox is that even the hardest “kafir” ends up surrendering first when true love arrives. The couplet suggests that love’s power is greater than formal creeds, because it transforms denial into devotion. Emotionally, it carries wonder and quiet pride at love’s converting force.
ishq hai ishq ye mazāq nahīñ
chand lamhoñ meñ faisla na karo
love is love, no joke at all
Rashly, do not make a call
ishq hai ishq ye mazaq nahin
chand lamhon mein faisla na karo
love is love, no joke at all
Rashly, do not make a call
jise ishq kā tiir kaarī lage
use zindagī kyuuñ na bhārī lage
jise ishq ka tir kari lage
use zindagi kyun na bhaari lage
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Tags: Ishqand 2 more
kuchh khel nahīñ hai ishq karnā
ye zindagī bhar kā rat-jagā hai
kuchh khel nahin hai ishq karna
ye zindagi bhar ka rat-jaga hai
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Tags: Ishqand 1 more
ishq meñ bhī koī anjām huā kartā hai
ishq meñ yaad hai āġhāz hī āġhāz mujhe
in love's journey do you think you'll ever reach your goal?
ishq mein bhi koi anjam hua karta hai
ishq mein yaad hai aaghaz hi aaghaz mujhe
in love's journey do you think you'll ever reach your goal?
kūcha-e-ishq meñ nikal aayā
jis ko ḳhāna-ḳharāb honā thā
kucha-e-ishq mein nikal aaya
jis ko KHana-KHarab hona tha
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Tags: Ishqand 1 more
