jab diya KHamosh tha aur raushni hoti na thi

jab diyā ḳhāmosh thā aur raushnī hotī na thī

raat kyā aatī thī goyā zindagī hotī na thī

jin dinoñ logoñ kī āñkheñ ḳhvāhishoñ se duur thiiñ

un dinoñ is shahr kī ye dilkashī hotī na thī

apnī apnī raġhbatoñ par jab talak thā iḳhtiyār

tere mere darmiyāñ ye bebasī hotī na thī

un dinoñ kī baat hai jab ham the miTTī se juḌe

be-kalī ma.adūm thī aur be-dilī hotī na thī

dekhte hī dekhte manzar badal kar rah gayā

ye galī suunī thī jab tak aap kī hotī na thī

apne apne din the sab ke apnī apnī raat thī

koī bhī shai jab nazar meñ markazī hotī na thī

jab dar-o-dīvār aa.e to uThī dīvār bhī

ghar nahīñ thā to hamārī be-gharī hotī na thī

ishq ne jab tak junūñ kā rāsta dekhā na thā

zindagī be-kaif thī tīsha-garī hotī na thī

is zamīñ kā ḳhālī-pan thā aur havā kā shor thā

un dinoñ kī baat hai jab shā.irī hotī na thī

jis kī shādābī hameñ le aa.ī hai 'shāhid' yahāñ

us jazīre par kabhī kyā zindagī hotī na thī

jab diya KHamosh tha aur raushni hoti na thi

raat kya aati thi goya zindagi hoti na thi

jin dinon logon ki aankhen KHwahishon se dur thin

un dinon is shahr ki ye dilkashi hoti na thi

apni apni raghbaton par jab talak tha iKHtiyar

tere mere darmiyan ye bebasi hoti na thi

un dinon ki baat hai jab hum the miTTi se juDe

be-kali madum thi aur be-dili hoti na thi

dekhte hi dekhte manzar badal kar rah gaya

ye gali suni thi jab tak aap ki hoti na thi

apne apne din the sab ke apni apni raat thi

koi bhi shai jab nazar mein markazi hoti na thi

jab dar-o-diwar aae to uThi diwar bhi

ghar nahin tha to hamari be-ghari hoti na thi

ishq ne jab tak junun ka rasta dekha na tha

zindagi be-kaif thi tisha-gari hoti na thi

is zamin ka KHali-pan tha aur hawa ka shor tha

un dinon ki baat hai jab shairi hoti na thi

jis ki shadabi hamein le aai hai 'shahid' yahan

us jazire par kabhi kya zindagi hoti na thi