fitnoñ kī arzānī se ab ek ik taar ālūda hai

ham dekheñ kis kis ke dāman ek bhī dāman paak nahīñ

fitnon ki arzani se ab ek ek tar aaluda hai

hum dekhen kis kis ke daman ek bhi daman pak nahin

yahī haiñ yādgār-e-ġhuncha-o-gul is zamāne meñ

inhīñ sūkhe hue kāñToñ se zikr-e-gulsitāñ likhiye

yahi hain yaadgar-e-ghuncha-o-gul is zamane mein

inhin sukhe hue kanTon se zikr-e-gulsitan likhiye

ġham-e-dil kā asar har bazm meñ hai

sab afsāne us afsāne se nikle

gham-e-dil ka asar har bazm mein hai

sab afsane us afsane se nikle

zulm sahte rahe shukr karte rahe aa.ī lab tak na ye dāstāñ aaj tak

mujh ko hairat rahī anjuman meñ tirī kyuuñ haiñ ḳhāmosh ahl-e-zabāñ aaj tak

zulm sahte rahe shukr karte rahe aai lab tak na ye dastan aaj tak

mujh ko hairat rahi anjuman mein teri kyun hain KHamosh ahl-e-zaban aaj tak

ajiib bhūl-bhulayyāñ hai shāhrāh-e-hayat

bhaTakne vaale yahāñ justujū kī baat na kar

ajib bhul-bhulayyan hai shahrah-e-hayat

bhaTakne wale yahan justuju ki baat na kar

bandagī terī ḳhudā.ī se bahut hai aage

naqsh-e-sajda hai tire naqsh-e-qadam se pahle

bandagi teri KHudai se bahut hai aage

naqsh-e-sajda hai tere naqsh-e-qadam se pahle

ik husn-e-mukammal hai to ik ishq-sarāpā

hoshyār sā ik shaḳhs hai dīvāna sā ik shaḳhs

ek husn-e-mukammal hai to ek ishq-sarapa

hoshyar sa ek shaKHs hai diwana sa ek shaKHs

guloñ kā zikr bahāroñ meñ kar chuke 'aḳhtar'

ab aao hosh meñ barq-o-sharar kī baat karo

gulon ka zikr bahaaron mein kar chuke 'aKHtar'

ab aao hosh mein barq-o-sharar ki baat karo

chup raho to pūchhtā hai ḳhair hai

lo ḳhamoshī bhī shikāyat ho ga.ī

chup raho to puchhta hai KHair hai

lo KHamoshi bhi shikayat ho gai

sahārā de nahīñ sakte shikasta paañv ko

haTāo rāh-e-mohabbat se rahnumāoñ ko

sahaara de nahin sakte shikasta panw ko

haTao rah-e-mohabbat se rahnumaon ko

gul khilā.e na kahīñ fitna-e-daurāñ kuchh aur

āj-kal daur-e-mai-o-jām se jī Dartā hai

gul khilae na kahin fitna-e-dauran kuchh aur

aaj-kal daur-e-mai-o-jam se ji Darta hai

bachā bachā ke guzarnā hai dāman-e-hastī

sharīk-e-ḳhār bhī kuchh jashn-e-nau-bahār meñ haiñ

bacha bacha ke guzarna hai daman-e-hasti

sharik-e-KHar bhi kuchh jashn-e-nau-bahaar mein hain

kuchh añdhere haiñ abhī raah meñ haa.il 'aḳhtar'

apnī manzil pe nazar aa.egā insāñ ik roz

kuchh andhere hain abhi rah mein hail 'aKHtar'

apni manzil pe nazar aaega insan ek roz

kyā karishma hai mire jazba-e-āzādī kā

thī jo dīvār kabhī ab hai vo dar kī sūrat

kya karishma hai mere jazba-e-azadi ka

thi jo diwar kabhi ab hai wo dar ki surat

raah par aa hī ga.e aaj bhaTakne vaale

rāhbar dekh vo manzil kā nishāñ hai ki nahīñ

rah par aa hi gae aaj bhaTakne wale

rahbar dekh wo manzil ka nishan hai ki nahin

abhī bahār ne sīkhī kahāñ hai dil-jūī

hazār daaġh abhī qalb-e-lāla-zār meñ haiñ

abhi bahaar ne sikhi kahan hai dil-jui

hazar dagh abhi qalb-e-lala-zar mein hain

ho koī mauj-e-tūfāñ yā havā-e-tund kā jhoñkā

jo pahuñchā de lab-e-sāhil usī ko nāḳhudā samjho

ho koi mauj-e-tufan ya hawa-e-tund ka jhonka

jo pahuncha de lab-e-sahil usi ko naKHuda samjho

ye rañg-o-kaif kahāñ thā shabāb se pahle

nazar kuchh aur thī mauj-e-sharāb se pahle

ye rang-o-kaif kahan tha shabab se pahle

nazar kuchh aur thi mauj-e-sharab se pahle

kyuuñ shikan paḌ ga.ī hai abrū par

maiñ to kahtā huuñ ek baat kī baat

kyun shikan paD gai hai abru par

main to kahta hun ek baat ki baat

kyuuñ karo 'aḳhtar' kī bāteñ vo to ik dīvāna hai

tum to yaaro apnī apnī dāstāñ kahte raho

kyun karo 'aKHtar' ki baaten wo to ek diwana hai

tum to yaro apni apni dastan kahte raho

dushmanī ko burā na kah ai dost

dekh kyā dostī hai ġhaur se dekh

dushmani ko bura na kah ai dost

dekh kya dosti hai ghaur se dekh

ham jo luTe us shahr meñ jā kar dukh logoñ ko kyuuñ pahuñchā

apnī nazar thī apnā dil thā koī parāyā maal na thā

hum jo luTe us shahr mein ja kar dukh logon ko kyun pahuncha

apni nazar thi apna dil tha koi paraya mal na tha