ahl-e-fan ahl-e-adab ahl-e-qalam kahte rahe

ahl-e-fan ahl-e-adab ahl-e-qalam kahte rahe

bad-zabāñ ko ham zabān-dān-e-ajam kahte rahe

jabr-o-istibdād ko jūd-o-karam kahte rahe

sabr-o-tā.at ko ilāj-e-dard-o-ġham kahte rahe

ham ko har mahfil meñ thā ādāb-e-mahfil kā ḳhayāl

ehtirāman har kisī ko mohtaram kahte rahe

chashm-poshī se riyā-kārī ko shah miltī rahī

aib-poshī ko sharāfat kā bharam kahte rahe

ārzū-e-maz.hab-o-millat bhī rakhnī thī zarūr

nañg-e-mimbar ko bhī ham shaiḳh-e-haram kahte rahe

vo bhī nikle rahnumāoñ ke nuqūsh-e-kajravī

jin ko raahī rāste ke pech-o-ḳham kahte rahe

bārhā dekhā hai 'māhir' un ko maġhmūm-o-malūl

ham jinheñ parvurda-e-nāz-o-ni.am karte rahe

ahl-e-fan ahl-e-adab ahl-e-qalam kahte rahe

bad-zaban ko hum zaban-dan-e-ajam kahte rahe

jabr-o-istibdad ko jud-o-karam kahte rahe

sabr-o-taat ko ilaj-e-dard-o-gham kahte rahe

hum ko har mahfil mein tha aadab-e-mahfil ka KHayal

ehtiraman har kisi ko mohtaram kahte rahe

chashm-poshi se riya-kari ko shah milti rahi

aib-poshi ko sharafat ka bharam kahte rahe

aarzu-e-mazhab-o-millat bhi rakhni thi zarur

nang-e-mimbar ko bhi hum shaiKH-e-haram kahte rahe

wo bhi nikle rahnumaon ke nuqush-e-kajrawi

jin ko rahi raste ke pech-o-KHam kahte rahe

barha dekha hai 'mahir' un ko maghmum-o-malul

hum jinhen parwurda-e-naz-o-niam karte rahe