"ایک لمحہ" راہی شہابی کی نظموں اور غزلوں کا مجموعہ ہے ۔وہ آزادی کے بعد کے نظم گو شعرا میں ایک منفرد مقام رکھتے ہیں۔ راہی شہابی گہرا تاریخی اور تہذیبی شعور رکھتے ہیں ، جس کا اظہار ان کی نظموں میں نظر آتا ہے۔ان کی نظموں کے مقابلے میں غزلوں میں غم ناک فضا طاری رہتی ہے ، اس کے علاوہ ان کی غزلوں میں ماضی کی خوشگوار یادوں اور مستقبل کی خوبصورت خوابوں سے محروم انسان کی پرچھائیاں نظرآتی ہیں ۔زیر نظر کتاب در اصل تین حصوں پر مشتمل ہے شروع کے حصے میں ان کی شاعری اور شخصیت پر کچھ مضامین شامل ہیں جبکہ دوسرے حصے میں ان کی نظمیں ہیں اور تیسرے حصے میں غزلیں شامل ہیں۔

Rahi Shahabi was born in a village Riyasat Khailiya Distt. Bulandshahar UP on 22 Jan 1934 who belongs Zamindar gharana of Bulandshahar.His grandfather Kunwar Tahseen Ali Khan was a commander in chief Jaipur and his father Kunwar Yaseen Ali Khan was well known a famous urdu poet and story-writer who used under the pen name of "Shahab Barni". Rahi Shahabi was graduated in Aligarh Muslim University and later he settled in Jaipur.He was married with Fatima Anwar in 1970 and he had 3 sons and 1 daughter.His eldor son Wajahat Ali Shahabi  posted to the translator at Rajsthan minorty commission and his younger son Sabahat Ali Shahabi was died in a car accident in young age.His daughter Shagufta Shahabi was married with Tabrez Ali but her husband was died due to heart attack after 10 years.
Rahi Shahabi worked as a press attachi to chief minister office and retired from there as a deputy director of public relation in  1993.
He was published his first nazm "Paigaam" in April 1952 but he got fame his marvelous nazm "Ek Lamha" who presented in Indo-Pak Mushyara at Red Forte in India.In mushayera Rahi Shahabi's sher was very famous "Hawadis Ko Nahi Maaluum Shayed, Safeena Mera Tuufaano.N Me Pala hai".
His poetic works includes,: "Kaarwaan-e-Zindgi", "Mera Watan,Meri Zabaan", "Ek Lamha", "Tajmahal", "Dastak" etc.
Rahi Was launched a weekly newspaper "Badlaa Hua Zamana" in 1971 from Jaipur but after 5th year due to some reasons its closed. He was secretary and subsequently chairman of Rajsthan Urdu Academy.Rahi died in Jaipur on 26 April 2005 after a protracted illness.