ajiib hote haiñ ādāb-e-ruḳhsat-e-mahfil

ki vo bhī uTh ke gayā jis kā ghar na thā koī

ajib hote hain aadab-e-ruKHsat-e-mahfil

ki wo bhi uTh ke gaya jis ka ghar na tha koi

ye marnā jiinā bhī shāyad majbūrī kī do lahreñ haiñ

kuchh soch ke marnā chāhā thā kuchh soch ke jiinā chāhā hai

ye marna jina bhi shayad majburi ki do lahren hain

kuchh soch ke marna chaha tha kuchh soch ke jina chaha hai

ham ko jannat kī fazā se bhī ziyāda hai aziiz

yahī be-rañg sī duniyā yahī be-mehr se log

hum ko jannat ki faza se bhi ziyaada hai aziz

yahi be-rang si duniya yahi be-mehr se log

jise guzār ga.e ham baḌe hunar ke saath

vo zindagī thī hamārī hunar na thā koī

jise guzar gae hum baDe hunar ke sath

wo zindagi thi hamari hunar na tha koi

mahfil-ārā.ī hamārī nahīñ ifrāt kā naam

koī ho yā ki na ho aap to aa.e hue haiñ

mahfil-arai hamari nahin ifraat ka nam

koi ho ya ki na ho aap to aae hue hain

diloñ kā haal to ye hai ki rabt hai na gurez

mohabbateñ to ga.iiñ thī adāvateñ bhī ga.iiñ

dilon ka haal to ye hai ki rabt hai na gurez

mohabbaten to gain thi adawaten bhi gain

jaane kyuuñ rañg-e-baġhāvat nahīñ chhupne paatā

ham to ḳhāmosh bhī haiñ sar bhī jhukā.e hue haiñ

jaane kyun rang-e-baghawat nahin chhupne pata

hum to KHamosh bhi hain sar bhi jhukae hue hain

sadā apnī ravish ahl-e-zamāna yaad rakhte haiñ

haqīqat bhuul jaate haiñ fasāna yaad rakhte haiñ

sada apni rawish ahl-e-zamana yaad rakhte hain

haqiqat bhul jate hain fasana yaad rakhte hain

kaisī kaisī mahfileñ suunī huiiñ

phir bhī duniyā kis qadar ābād hai

kaisi kaisi mahfilen suni huin

phir bhi duniya kis qadar aabaad hai

shāyad ki vo vāqif nahīñ ādāb-e-safar se

paanī meñ jo qadmoñ ke nishāñ DhūñD rahā thā

shayad ki wo waqif nahin aadab-e-safar se

pani mein jo qadmon ke nishan DhunD raha tha

tañg aate bhī nahīñ kashmakash-e-dahr se log

kyā tamāshā hai ki marte bhī nahīñ zahr se log

tang aate bhi nahin kashmakash-e-dahr se log

kya tamasha hai ki marte bhi nahin zahr se log

shikva-e-talḳhi-e-hālāt bajā hai lekin

is pe rotā huuñ ki maiñ ne bhī rulāyā hai tujhe

shikwa-e-talKHi-e-haalat baja hai lekin

is pe rota hun ki main ne bhi rulaya hai tujhe

na ab vo shiddat-e-āvārgī na vahshat-e-dil

hamāre naam kī kuchh aur shohrateñ bhī ga.iiñ

na ab wo shiddat-e-awargi na wahshat-e-dil

hamare nam ki kuchh aur shohraten bhi gain

tirī aarzū se bhī kyuuñ nahīñ ġham-e-zindagī meñ koī kamī

ye savāl vo hai ki jis kā ab koī ik javāb nahīñ rahā

teri aarzu se bhi kyun nahin gham-e-zindagi mein koi kami

ye sawal wo hai ki jis ka ab koi ek jawab nahin raha

maut ke ba.ad ziist kī bahs meñ mubtalā the log

ham to 'sahar' guzar ga.e tohmat-e-zindagī uThā.e

maut ke baad zist ki bahs mein mubtala the log

hum to 'sahar' guzar gae tohmat-e-zindagi uThae

mire lahū ko mirī ḳhāk-e-nāguzīr ko dekh

yūñhī salīqa-e-arz-e-hunar nahīñ aayā

mere lahu ko meri KHak-e-naguzir ko dekh

yunhi saliqa-e-arz-e-hunar nahin aaya