nigahen muntazir hain kis ki dil ko justuju kya hai

nigāheñ muntazir haiñ kis kī dil ko justujū kyā hai

mujhe ḳhud bhī nahīñ ma.alūm merī aarzū kyā hai

badaltī jā rahī hai karvaToñ par karvaTeñ duniyā

kisī sūrat nahīñ khultā jahān-e-rañg-o-bū kyā hai

ye sochā dil ko nazr-e-ārzū karte hue ham ne

nigāh-e-husn-e-ḳhud-ārā meñ dil kī aabrū kyā hai

mujhe ab dekhtī hai zindagī yuuñ be-niyāzāna

ki jaise pūchhtī ho kaun ho tum justujū kyā hai

huā kartī hai dil se guftugū be-ḳhvāb rātoñ meñ

magar khultā nahīñ mujh par ki 'aḳhtar' guftugū kyā hai

maiñ in āñkhoñ ko kyā samjhūñ ki apnī ḳhāna-vīrānī

jinheñ ye bhī nahīñ ma.alūm ḳhūn-e-ārzū kyā hai

kiran sūraj kī kahtī hai phir aa.egī shab-e-hijrāñ

sahar hotī hai 'aḳhtar' so raho ye hāv-hū kyā hai

nigahen muntazir hain kis ki dil ko justuju kya hai

mujhe KHud bhi nahin malum meri aarzu kya hai

badalti ja rahi hai karwaTon par karwaTen duniya

kisi surat nahin khulta jahan-e-rang-o-bu kya hai

ye socha dil ko nazr-e-arzu karte hue hum ne

nigah-e-husn-e-KHud-ara mein dil ki aabru kya hai

mujhe ab dekhti hai zindagi yun be-niyazana

ki jaise puchhti ho kaun ho tum justuju kya hai

hua karti hai dil se guftugu be-KHwab raaton mein

magar khulta nahin mujh par ki 'aKHtar' guftugu kya hai

main in aankhon ko kya samjhun ki apni KHana-virani

jinhen ye bhi nahin malum KHun-e-arzu kya hai

kiran suraj ki kahti hai phir aaegi shab-e-hijran

sahar hoti hai 'aKHtar' so raho ye haw-hu kya hai