Mahlas

Mahlas is a term used to denote a pen name or pseudonym adopted by poets and writers, particularly within Ottoman Turkish, Arabic, Persian, and related literary traditions. The mahlas serves as the author’s chosen public persona and is typically used to sign poetry or other works, appearing in editions of a diwan or manuscript as an identifying signature alongside or instead of a real name. In Turkish literary history, poets often composed their poems under a mahlas and sometimes used more than one for different periods or genres; the name may reflect personal qualities, themes, or imagery.

In Persian and Urdu literature, the analogous concept is takhallus, though the Turkish term mahlas remains common in scholarly discussions of Ottoman works. The mahlas can appear in various places within a text, including opening lines, the body of a poem, or at the end, and may be accompanied by brief biographical notes in later editions. The practice helps attribute works to a specific author and provides insight into the poet’s self-presentation or stylistic program.

Significance and usage have varied over time. While the explicit use of mahlas has diminished in many modern contexts, it remains a notable feature in the study of historical manuscripts and early printed editions. Overall, mahlas reflects a long-standing tradition in Middle Eastern and South Asian literatures of distinguishing a writer’s public persona from their legal or familial identity.