ajab si koi be-yaqin raat thi

'ajab sī koī be-yaqīñ raat thī

kahīñ thoḌā din thā kahīñ raat thī

giraftār thī dard-e-zeh meñ bahut

vo taḳhlīq kī avvalīñ raat thī

thiiñ chīzeñ jahāñ shakl paane ke baa'd

vahīñ din bhī thā aur vahīñ raat thī

kahāñ thī ye jab tak ki zāhir na thī

falak par ki zer-e-zamīñ raat thī

mire saath jo mere bistar meñ thī

vo sab se ziyāda hasīñ raat thī

nikaltī thī jo raushnī dekhne

kisī tiira ghar kī makīñ raat thī

mile bhī to bikhre hue maah o saal

kahīñ din paḌā thā kahīñ raat thī

kisī ḳhaar mānind chubhtī rahī

ba-zāhir baḌī maḳhmalīñ raat thī

thā nārāz din mere ik fe'l par

kisī baat par ḳhashm-gīñ raat thī

ziyāda hī gahrī thī 'shāhīñ' shafaq

baḌī der tak ātishīñ raat thī

'ajab si koi be-yaqin raat thi

kahin thoDa din tha kahin raat thi

giraftar thi dard-e-zeh mein bahut

wo taKHliq ki awwalin raat thi

thin chizen jahan shakl pane ke ba'd

wahin din bhi tha aur wahin raat thi

kahan thi ye jab tak ki zahir na thi

falak par ki zer-e-zamin raat thi

mere sath jo mere bistar mein thi

wo sab se ziyaada hasin raat thi

nikalti thi jo raushni dekhne

kisi tera ghar ki makin raat thi

mile bhi to bikhre hue mah o sal

kahin din paDa tha kahin raat thi

kisi KHar manind chubhti rahi

ba-zahir baDi maKHmalin raat thi

tha naraaz din mere ek fe'l par

kisi baat par KHashm-gin raat thi

ziyaada hi gahri thi 'shahin' shafaq

baDi der tak aatishin raat thi