ab is ghar kī ābādī mehmānoñ par hai

koī aa jaa.e to vaqt guzar jaatā hai

ab is ghar ki aabaadi mehmanon par hai

koi aa jae to waqt guzar jata hai

is ummīd pe roz charāġh jalāte haiñ

aane vaale barsoñ ba.ad bhī aate haiñ

is ummid pe roz charagh jalate hain

aane wale barson baad bhi aate hain

nahīñ nahīñ hameñ ab terī justujū bhī nahīñ

tujhe bhī bhuul ga.e ham tirī ḳhushī ke liye

nahin nahin hamein ab teri justuju bhi nahin

tujhe bhi bhul gae hum teri KHushi ke liye

chhoTī sī baat pe ḳhush honā mujhe aatā thā

par baḌī baat pe chup rahnā tumhī se sīkhā

chhoTi si baat pe KHush hona mujhe aata tha

par baDi baat pe chup rahna tumhi se sikha

kahāñ ke ishq-o-mohabbat kidhar ke hijr o visāl

abhī to log taraste haiñ zindagī ke liye

kahan ke ishq-o-mohabbat kidhar ke hijr o visal

abhi to log taraste hain zindagi ke liye

ek ke ghar kī ḳhidmat kī aur ek ke dil se mohabbat kī

donoñ farz nibhā kar us ne saarī umr ibādat kī

ek ke ghar ki KHidmat ki aur ek ke dil se mohabbat ki

donon farz nibha kar us ne sari umr ibaadat ki

dekhte dekhte ik ghar ke rahne vaale

apne apne ḳhānoñ meñ baT jaate haiñ

dekhte dekhte ek ghar ke rahne wale

apne apne KHanon mein baT jate hain

aurat ke ḳhudā do haiñ haqīqī o majāzī

par us ke liye koī bhī achchhā nahīñ hotā

aurat ke KHuda do hain haqiqi o majazi

par us ke liye koi bhi achchha nahin hota

is shahr ko raas aa.ī ham jaisoñ kī gum-nāmī

ham naam batāte to ye shahr bhī jal jaatā

is shahr ko ras aai hum jaison ki gum-nami

hum nam batate to ye shahr bhi jal jata

ham jo pahuñche to rahguzar hī na thī

tum jo aa.e to manzileñ laa.e

hum jo pahunche to rahguzar hi na thi

tum jo aae to manzilen lae

tum se hāsil huā ik gahre samundar kā sukūt

aur har mauj se laḌnā bhī tumhī se sīkhā

tum se hasil hua ek gahre samundar ka sukut

aur har mauj se laDna bhi tumhi se sikha

bhūlnā ḳhud ko to āsāñ hai bhulā baiThā huuñ

vo sitamgar jo na bhūle se bhulāyā jaa.e

bhulna KHud ko to aasan hai bhula baiTha hun

wo sitamgar jo na bhule se bhulaya jae

dil bujhne lagā ātish-e-ruḳhsār ke hote

tanhā nazar aate haiñ ġham-e-yār ke hote

dil bujhne laga aatish-e-ruKHsar ke hote

tanha nazar aate hain gham-e-yar ke hote

koī hañgāma sar-e-bazm uThāyā jaa.e

kuchh kiyā jaa.e charāġhoñ ko bujhāyā jaa.e

koi hangama sar-e-bazm uThaya jae

kuchh kiya jae charaghon ko bujhaya jae

barsoñ hue tum kahīñ nahīñ ho

aaj aisā lagā yahīñ kahīñ ho

barson hue tum kahin nahin ho

aaj aisa laga yahin kahin ho

jin bātoñ ko sunñā tak bār-e-ḳhātir thā

aaj unhīñ bātoñ se dil bahlā.e hue huuñ

jin baaton ko sunna tak bar-e-KHatir tha

aaj unhin baaton se dil bahlae hue hun

zamīñ par gir rahe the chāñd taare jaldī jaldī

añdherā ghar kī dīvāroñ se ūñchā ho rahā thā

zamin par gir rahe the chand tare jaldi jaldi

andhera ghar ki diwaron se uncha ho raha tha

jo dil ne kahī lab pe kahāñ aa.ī hai dekho

ab mahfil yārāñ meñ bhī tanhā.ī hai dekho

jo dil ne kahi lab pe kahan aai hai dekho

ab mahfil yaran mein bhi tanhai hai dekho

ye udāsī ye phailte saa.e

ham tujhe yaad kar ke pachhtā.e

ye udasi ye phailte sae

hum tujhe yaad kar ke pachhtae

vo na jaane kyā samjhā zikr mausamoñ kā thā

maiñ ne jaane kyā sochā baat rañg-o-bū kī thī

wo na jaane kya samjha zikr mausamon ka tha

main ne jaane kya socha baat rang-o-bu ki thi

dekho to lagtā hai jaise dekhā thā

socho to phir naam nahīñ yaad aate haiñ

dekho to lagta hai jaise dekha tha

socho to phir nam nahin yaad aate hain

jo sun sako to ye sab dāstāñ tumhārī hai

hazār baar jatāyā magar nahīñ maane

jo sun sako to ye sab dastan tumhaari hai

hazar bar jataya magar nahin mane

mai-e-hayāt meñ shāmil hai talḳhī-e-daurāñ

jabhī to pī ke taraste haiñ be-ḳhudī ke liye

mai-e-hayat mein shamil hai talKHi-e-dauran

jabhi to pi ke taraste hain be-KHudi ke liye

apnā har andāz āñkhoñ ko tar-o-tāza lagā

kitne din ke ba.ad mujh ko ā.īna achchhā lagā

apna har andaz aankhon ko tar-o-taza laga

kitne din ke baad mujh ko aaina achchha laga

dīvānoñ ko ab vus.at-e-sahrā nahīñ darkār

vahshat ke liye sāya-e-dīvār bahut hai

diwanon ko ab wusat-e-sahra nahin darkar

wahshat ke liye saya-e-diwar bahut hai

sulh jis se rahī merī tā-zindagī

us kā saare zamāne se jhagḌā sā thā

sulh jis se rahi meri ta-zindagi

us ka sare zamane se jhagDa sa tha

dekho vo bhī haiñ jo sab kah sakte the

dekho un ke muñh par taale ab bhī haiñ

dekho wo bhi hain jo sab kah sakte the

dekho un ke munh par tale ab bhi hain

shaam Dhale aahaT kī kirneñ phūTī thiiñ

sūraj Duub ke mere ghar meñ niklā thā

sham Dhale aahaT ki kirnen phuTi thin

suraj Dub ke mere ghar mein nikla tha

ham se baḌhī masāfat-e-dasht-e-vafā ki ham

ḳhud hī bhaTak ga.e jo kabhī rāsta milā

hum se baDhi masafat-e-dasht-e-wafa ki hum

KHud hi bhaTak gae jo kabhi rasta mila

raat ajab āseb-zada sā mausam thā

apnā honā aur na honā mub.ham thā

raat ajab aaseb-zada sa mausam tha

apna hona aur na hona mubham tha

ġham apne hī ashkoñ kā ḳharīdā huā hai

dil apnī hī hālat kā tamāshā.ī hai dekho

gham apne hi ashkon ka KHarida hua hai

dil apni hi haalat ka tamashai hai dekho

bastī meñ kuchh log nirāle ab bhī haiñ

dekho ḳhālī dāman vaale ab bhī haiñ

basti mein kuchh log nirale ab bhi hain

dekho KHali daman wale ab bhi hain

shab-bhar kā tirā jāgnā achchhā nahīñ 'zehrā'

phir din kā koī kaam bhī puurā nahīñ hotā

shab-bhar ka tera jagna achchha nahin 'zehra'

phir din ka koi kaam bhi pura nahin hota

ab bhī kuchh log sunāte haiñ sunā.e hue sher

bāteñ ab bhī tirī zehnoñ meñ basī lagtī haiñ

ab bhi kuchh log sunate hain sunae hue sher

baaten ab bhi teri zehnon mein basi lagti hain

vahshat meñ bhī minnat-kash-e-sahrā nahīñ hote

kuchh log bikhar kar bhī tamāshā nahīñ hote

wahshat mein bhi minnat-kash-e-sahra nahin hote

kuchh log bikhar kar bhi tamasha nahin hote

lo Dūbtoñ ne dekh liyā nāḳhudā ko aaj

taqrīb kuchh to bahr-e-mulāqāt ho ga.ī

lo Dubton ne dekh liya naKHuda ko aaj

taqrib kuchh to bahr-e-mulaqat ho gai

der tak raushnī rahī kal raat

maiñ ne oḌhī thī chāñdnī kal raat

der tak raushni rahi kal raat

main ne oDhi thi chandni kal raat

maiñ to apne aap ko us din bahut achchhī lagī

vo jo thak kar der se aayā use kaisā lagā

main to apne aap ko us din bahut achchhi lagi

wo jo thak kar der se aaya use kaisa laga

uTho ki jashn-e-ḳhizāñ ham manā.eñ jī bhar ke

bahār aa.e gulistāñ meñ kab ḳhudā jaane

uTho ki jashn-e-KHizan hum manaen ji bhar ke

bahaar aae gulistan mein kab KHuda jaane

vo saath na detā to vo daad na detā to

ye likhne-likhāne kā jo bhī hai ḳhalal jaatā

wo sath na deta to wo dad na deta to

ye likhne-likhane ka jo bhi hai KHalal jata

ek terā ġham jis ko rāh-e-mo'tabar jāneñ

is safar meñ ham kis ko apnā ham-safar jāneñ

ek tera gham jis ko rah-e-mo'tabar jaanen

is safar mein hum kis ko apna ham-safar jaanen

tāroñ ko gardisheñ milīñ zarroñ ko tābisheñ

ai rah-navard rāh-e-junūñ tujh ko kyā milā

taron ko gardishen milin zarron ko tabishen

ai rah-naward rah-e-junun tujh ko kya mila

bahut din ba.ad 'zehrā' tū ne kuchh ġhazleñ to likkhīñ

na likhne kā kisī se kyā koī va.ada kiyā thā

bahut din baad 'zehra' tu ne kuchh ghazlen to likkhin

na likhne ka kisi se kya koi wada kiya tha

sā.ateñ jo tirī qurbat meñ girāñ guzrī thiiñ

duur se dekhūñ to ab vo bhī bhalī lagtī haiñ

saaten jo teri qurbat mein giran guzri thin

dur se dekhun to ab wo bhi bhali lagti hain

naqsh kī tarah ubharnā bhī tumhī se sīkhā

rafta rafta nazar aanā bhī tumhī se sīkhā

naqsh ki tarah ubharna bhi tumhi se sikha

rafta rafta nazar aana bhi tumhi se sikha

raushniyāñ atrāf meñ 'zehrā' raushan thiiñ

ā.īne meñ aks hī terā maddham thā

raushniyan atraf mein 'zehra' raushan thin

aaine mein aks hi tera maddham tha

ruk jā hujūm-e-gul ki abhī hausla nahīñ

dil se ḳhayāl-e-tañgī-e-dāmāñ gayā nahīñ

ruk ja hujum-e-gul ki abhi hausla nahin

dil se KHayal-e-tangi-e-daman gaya nahin

jiinā hai to jī leñge bahar-taur divāne

kis baat kā ġham hai rasan-o-dār ke hote

jina hai to ji lenge bahar-taur diwane

kis baat ka gham hai rasan-o-dar ke hote

gardish-e-mīnā-o-jām dekhiye kab tak rahe

ham pe taqāzā-e-harām dekhiye kab tak rahe

gardish-e-mina-o-jam dekhiye kab tak rahe

hum pe taqaza-e-haram dekhiye kab tak rahe