dam-ba-dam gardish-e-haalat ka matlab kya hai

dam-ba-dam gardish-e-hālāt kā matlab kyā hai

bazm-e-hastī meñ savālāt kā matlab kyā hai

hijr kahte haiñ kise vasl kā matlab kyā hai

dard kyā shai hai 'ināyāt kā matlab kyā hai

tham ga.e aañkh kī dahlīz pe aa kar aañsū

yaad hai un ko rivāyāt kā matlab kyā hai

pā-ba-zanjīr sahī raqs kareñge ham log

'ishq meñ qaid-o-havālāt kā matlab kyā hai

chāk-dāmāñ hī sahī ḳhāk-badāmāñ hī sahī

jānte haiñ ki ḳharābāt kā matlab kyā hai

ab na saaqī hai na sāġhar hai na mai-ḳhāna hai

log kyā jāneñ 'ibādāt kā matlab kyā hai

sajda-e-shauq to mad.hosh hī kar saktā hai

ḳhushk-māthoñ pe nishānāt kā matlab kyā hai

ham faqīrān-e-mohabbat haiñ batā sakte haiñ

manzil-e-shauq-o-maqāmāt kā matlab kyā hai

kitne namrūd haiñ duniyā meñ nishān-e-‘ibrat

kaun samjhā.e mukāfāt kā matlab kyā hai

ek hī 'ahd-e-tamaddun hai ki jis meñ 'akram'

charḳh ne dekhā muvāḳhāt kā matlab kyā hai

dam-ba-dam gardish-e-haalat ka matlab kya hai

bazm-e-hasti mein sawalat ka matlab kya hai

hijr kahte hain kise wasl ka matlab kya hai

dard kya shai hai 'inayat ka matlab kya hai

tham gae aankh ki dahliz pe aa kar aansu

yaad hai un ko riwayat ka matlab kya hai

pa-ba-zanjir sahi raqs karenge hum log

'ishq mein qaid-o-hawalat ka matlab kya hai

chaak-daman hi sahi KHak-badaman hi sahi

jaante hain ki KHarabaat ka matlab kya hai

ab na saqi hai na saghar hai na mai-KHana hai

log kya jaanen 'ibaadat ka matlab kya hai

sajda-e-shauq to madhosh hi kar sakta hai

KHushk-mathon pe nishanat ka matlab kya hai

hum faqiran-e-mohabbat hain bata sakte hain

manzil-e-shauq-o-maqamat ka matlab kya hai

kitne namrud hain duniya mein nishan-e-‘ibrat

kaun samjhae mukafat ka matlab kya hai

ek hi 'ahd-e-tamaddun hai ki jis mein 'akram'

charKH ne dekha muwaKHat ka matlab kya hai