har makan aabaad tha yan har makin dil-shad tha

har makāñ ābād thā yaañ har makīñ dil-shād thā

is nagar kā naam yaaro pahle faizabad thā

kyā balā thā vo musavvir jis kī har tasvīr meñ

bulbuleñ āzād thiiñ aur qaid meñ sayyād thā

hazrat-e-ādam ne bhī jaanā gunāhoñ ke tufail

ye jahāñ barbād hai ki vo jahāñ barbād thā

marne vaale ko miyāñ pahlī mohabbat kī tarah

nursery schōl kā pahlā sabaq bhī yaad thā

ishq-zādoñ meñ protocol kā jhagḌā nahīñ

qais jis jañgal meñ thā āḳhir vahīñ farhād thā

jis ko diction kah rahe haiñ muftiyān-e-reḳhta

ye nayā lahja ġharīb-e-shahr kī ījād thā

mahfil-e-sher-o-suḳhan meñ kal kī shab 'hāshim' razā

kyā kahūñ mere alāva har koī ustād thā

har makan aabaad tha yan har makin dil-shad tha

is nagar ka nam yaro pahle faizabad tha

kya bala tha wo musawwir jis ki har taswir mein

bulbulen aazad thin aur qaid mein sayyaad tha

hazrat-e-adam ne bhi jaana gunahon ke tufail

ye jahan barbaad hai ki wo jahan barbaad tha

marne wale ko miyan pahli mohabbat ki tarah

nursery school ka pahla sabaq bhi yaad tha

ishq-zadon mein protocol ka jhagDa nahin

qais jis jangal mein tha aaKHir wahin farhad tha

jis ko diction kah rahe hain muftiyan-e-reKHta

ye naya lahja gharib-e-shahr ki ijad tha

mahfil-e-sher-o-suKHan mein kal ki shab 'hashim' raza

kya kahun mere alawa har koi ustad tha