Ḥusn al-ibtidāʾ requires a clear, fitting and attractive opening. Barāʿat al-istihlāl additionally gives an anticipatory indication of the work's central purpose. A skilful foreshadowing opening can thus be a special kind of good beginning, but not every elegant introduction foreshadows its subject.
An elegy may begin in a tone appropriate to mourning and thereby attain a good opening. If its first expressions also indicate whose loss will become the discourse's main concern, they display the further refinement of barāʿat al-istihlāl.
Judge the initial impression, relevance to the occasion and signalling of purpose together. Rare vocabulary or ornate figures alone do not ensure a successful opening.