Matla'

{{redirect|Matla}}

In Persian, Turkic and Urdu poetry, the matla{{'}} (from Arabic {{lang|ar|مطلع}} {{Transliteration|ar|maṭlaʿ}}; {{langx|fa|مطلع}}; {{langx|az|mətlə}}; {{langx|tr|matla}}; {{langx|uz|matla}}; {{langx|ur|مطلع}}) is the first bayt, or couplet, of a ghazal.{{Cite book|title=Urdu For Pleasure For Ghazal Lovers: Intekhab O Lughat: 500 Selected Verses & 10,000 Urdu Words, English Hindi|last=Nathani|first=Sultan|publisher=Sultan Nathani|year=1992|isbn=8190025309|location=Bombay|pages=XVI}}{{Cite web|url=https://dailytimes.com.pk/164447/history-art-performance-ghazal-hindustani-sangeet/|title=The history, art and performance of ghazal in Hindustani sangeet|date=2017-12-21|website=Daily Times|language=en-US|access-date=2020-01-18}} In this sense, it is the opposite of the maqta'. It is possible, although extremely rare, for there to be more than one matla{{'}} in a ghazal; in this case the second is referred to as husn e Matla. It is important part because it establishes the overall form and mood of the entire ghazal.

The defining feature of the matla{{'}} is that both verses of the couplet rhyme, or expressed in technical terminology, both verses end with the qafiya and radif of the ghazal. In fact, the purpose of the matla{{'}} is to define the qafiya and radif for the rest of the ghazal.