iqrar ki surat thi na inkar ki surat

iqrār kī sūrat thī na inkār kī sūrat

dekhī na ga.ī mujh se mire yaar kī sūrat

sab majma.a-e-āshufta-sarāñ dekh rahe the

maiñ taktā rahā ā.ina-bardār kī sūrat

kuchh din ke liye qāfila-e-ḳhush-nazarāñ bhī

gardish meñ rahā gardish-e-parkār kī sūrat

vo shahr jo raunaq thā jahān-e-guzarāñ kī

lagtā hai mujhe vādī-e-pur-ḳhār kī sūrat

maiñ dasht-e-tamannā kā musāfir huuñ mujhe bhī

ik saaya mile sāya-e-dīvār kī sūrat

ab tak mirī āñkhoñ meñ harārat hai vafā kī

dekhī thī kabhī kūcha-e-dildār kī sūrat

'aḳhtar' ko na raas aaya kabhī mausam-e-hijrāñ

phir bhī hai ravāñ lamha-e-bedār kī sūrat

iqrar ki surat thi na inkar ki surat

dekhi na gai mujh se mere yar ki surat

sab majma-e-ashufta-saran dekh rahe the

main takta raha aaina-bardar ki surat

kuchh din ke liye qafila-e-KHush-nazaran bhi

gardish mein raha gardish-e-parkar ki surat

wo shahr jo raunaq tha jahan-e-guzaran ki

lagta hai mujhe wadi-e-pur-KHar ki surat

main dasht-e-tamanna ka musafir hun mujhe bhi

ek saya mile saya-e-diwar ki surat

ab tak meri aankhon mein hararat hai wafa ki

dekhi thi kabhi kucha-e-dildar ki surat

'aKHtar' ko na ras aaya kabhi mausam-e-hijran

phir bhi hai rawan lamha-e-bedar ki surat