doston mein waqai ye bahs bhi aksar hui

dostoñ meñ vāqa.ī ye bahs bhī aksar huī

haar kis ke sar huī hai jiit kis ke sar huī

zehn be-paikar huā aur aql be-manzar huī

dil to patthar ho chukā thā aañkh bhī patthar huī

log kahte haiñ ki qadr-e-mushtarak koī nahīñ

is ḳharābe meñ to sab kī zindagī dūbhar huī

roz-o-shab aḳhbār kī ḳhabroñ se bahlātā huuñ jī

ye samajhtā huuñ ki ab to raushnī ghar ghar huī

zehn meñ aane lage phir nā-pasandīda ḳhayāl

vo kahānī kaise bhūleñ naqsh jo dil par huī

dukh-bharī āvāz suntā huuñ to hotā huuñ udaas

ye ḳhatā Thahrī to mujh se ye ḳhatā aksar huī

ik zamāne se to bas 'iqbāl' apnī zindagī

dard kā bistar huī ehsās kī chādar huī

doston mein waqai ye bahs bhi aksar hui

haar kis ke sar hui hai jit kis ke sar hui

zehn be-paikar hua aur aql be-manzar hui

dil to patthar ho chuka tha aankh bhi patthar hui

log kahte hain ki qadr-e-mushtarak koi nahin

is KHarabe mein to sab ki zindagi dubhar hui

roz-o-shab aKHbar ki KHabron se bahlata hun ji

ye samajhta hun ki ab to raushni ghar ghar hui

zehn mein aane lage phir na-pasandida KHayal

wo kahani kaise bhulen naqsh jo dil par hui

dukh-bhari aawaz sunta hun to hota hun udas

ye KHata Thahri to mujh se ye KHata aksar hui

ek zamane se to bas 'iqbaal' apni zindagi

dard ka bistar hui ehsas ki chadar hui