ek ajab aalam hai dil ka zindagi ki rah mein

ik ajab aalam hai dil kā zindagī kī raah meñ

dekhtā huuñ kuchh kamī sī husn-e-mahr-o-māh meñ

us ke hote bhī maiñ ik ehsās-e-tanhā.ī meñ huuñ

jalva-gar hai vo jo muddat se dil-e-āgāh meñ

duur ho kar mujh se chaltī hai havā-e-jāñ-fazā

jī rahā huuñ phir bhī aise mausam-e-jāñkāh meñ

har qadam par kyuuñ Darātī hai mujhe ye zindagī

ye jo merī raushnī thī zulmatoñ kī raah meñ

kaise uTThūñ tere dar se ai jahān-e-ārzū

ek aalam ko sameTe dāman-e-kotāh meñ

ai parastārān-e-duniyā dil kī duniyā hai kuchh aur

kaun Thokar khaa.e bin rahtā hai us kī raah meñ

ab na pahchāne koī 'aḳhtar' to is kā kyā ilaaj

umr saarī kaaT dī hai tū ne rasm-o-rāh meñ

ek ajab aalam hai dil ka zindagi ki rah mein

dekhta hun kuchh kami si husn-e-mahr-o-mah mein

us ke hote bhi main ek ehsas-e-tanhai mein hun

jalwa-gar hai wo jo muddat se dil-e-agah mein

dur ho kar mujh se chalti hai hawa-e-jaan-faza

ji raha hun phir bhi aise mausam-e-jaankah mein

har qadam par kyun Daraati hai mujhe ye zindagi

ye jo meri raushni thi zulmaton ki rah mein

kaise uTThun tere dar se ai jahan-e-arzu

ek aalam ko sameTe daman-e-kotah mein

ai parastaran-e-duniya dil ki duniya hai kuchh aur

kaun Thokar khae bin rahta hai us ki rah mein

ab na pahchane koi 'aKHtar' to is ka kya ilaj

umr sari kaT di hai tu ne rasm-o-rah mein