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What is a noha?

Noha refers to devotional lamentation, with language and performance traditions that vary across communities.

Awaiting scholarly reviewBy ShiaAzan editorial·Updated 2026-09-27

This is an educational summary, not a personal religious ruling. Where practice differs, follow the guidance of your marja or local religious authority.

Terminology

Noha is the term most used in South Asian communities for devotional lamentation, and it usually refers to sung poetry rather than prose.

Marked for scholarly review before this claim is presented as verified.

Urdu and other traditions

Urdu noha sits within a long poetic tradition that also includes marsiya and salaam, each with its own conventions of form and length.

Marked for scholarly review before this claim is presented as verified.

Relationship to latmiyya

Noha and latmiyya occupy similar space in different linguistic settings. They are related in purpose and distinct in form.