ajr kya hai azab kya shai hai

ajr kyā hai azaab kyā shai hai

ye gunāh-o-savāb kyā shai hai

tere hijrāñ meñ ye khulā mujh par

ruuh kā iztirāb kyā shai hai

in bahāroñ ke kyā ma.ānī haiñ

titlī ḳhushbū gulāb kyā shai hai

terā chehra hī jāntā huuñ maiñ

kyā ḳhabar māhtāb kyā shai hai

dasht meñ kaun mujh ko samjhā.e

paanī kyā hai sarāb kyā shai hai

zindagī be-takallufī hai miyāñ

ḳhud batāo hijāb kyā shai hai

barq sho.ala na raushnī hai koī

phir tirī āb-o-tāb kyā shai hai

terī āñkhoñ se jo nasha paayā

jaam kyā hai sharāb kyā shai hai

kyā muamma hai lafz-e-uryānī

parda kyā hai naqāb kyā shai hai

ek 'vāqif' samajh nahīñ aatā

jaane ālī-janāb kyā shai hai

ajr kya hai azab kya shai hai

ye gunah-o-sawab kya shai hai

tere hijran mein ye khula mujh par

ruh ka iztirab kya shai hai

in bahaaron ke kya maani hain

titli KHushbu gulab kya shai hai

tera chehra hi jaanta hun main

kya KHabar mahtab kya shai hai

dasht mein kaun mujh ko samjhae

pani kya hai sarab kya shai hai

zindagi be-takallufi hai miyan

KHud batao hijab kya shai hai

barq shoala na raushni hai koi

phir teri aab-o-tab kya shai hai

teri aankhon se jo nasha paya

jam kya hai sharab kya shai hai

kya muamma hai lafz-e-uryani

parda kya hai naqab kya shai hai

ek 'waqif' samajh nahin aata

jaane aali-janab kya shai hai