dekhe jo ek bar ruKH-e-yar ki taraf

dekhe jo ek baar ruḳh-e-yār kī taraf

phir umr-bhar na jaa.e vo gulzār kī taraf

ho dekhnā jise mizha-e-yār kī taraf

dekhe vo pahle ḳhanjar-e-ḳhūñ-ḳhār kī taraf

apnī jagah se ham nahīñ uTThe ye soch kar

dil hai to ḳhud hī jā.egā dildār kī taraf

kis ke nasīb jāgne vaale haiñ kyā ḳhabar

rah rah ke dekhte haiñ vo talvār kī taraf

us dar pe kaun hai ki vahāñ se koī sadā

aa aa ke lauT jaatī hai dīvār kī taraf

mailān-e-tab.a-e-yār ajab hai ki in dinoñ

apnoñ hī kī taraf hai na aġhyār kī taraf

iqrār kī dikhā koī sūrat ki ai ḳhudā

muñh pher kar vo baiThe haiñ inkār kī taraf

rahmat tirī sahārā banī varna hashr meñ

koī nahīñ thā mujh se gunahgār kī taraf

'mahfūz' taḳht-gāh-e-qanā.at hai aur ham

kyoñ uTh ke jaa.eñ ab kisī darbār kī taraf

dekhe jo ek bar ruKH-e-yar ki taraf

phir umr-bhar na jae wo gulzar ki taraf

ho dekhna jise mizha-e-yar ki taraf

dekhe wo pahle KHanjar-e-KHun-KHar ki taraf

apni jagah se hum nahin uTThe ye soch kar

dil hai to KHud hi jaega dildar ki taraf

kis ke nasib jagne wale hain kya KHabar

rah rah ke dekhte hain wo talwar ki taraf

us dar pe kaun hai ki wahan se koi sada

aa aa ke lauT jati hai diwar ki taraf

mailan-e-taba-e-yar ajab hai ki in dinon

apnon hi ki taraf hai na aghyar ki taraf

iqrar ki dikha koi surat ki ai KHuda

munh pher kar wo baiThe hain inkar ki taraf

rahmat teri sahaara bani warna hashr mein

koi nahin tha mujh se gunahgar ki taraf

'mahfuz' taKHt-gah-e-qanaat hai aur hum

kyon uTh ke jaen ab kisi darbar ki taraf