kaifiyat kya thi yahan aalam-e-gham se pahle

kaifiyat kyā thī yahāñ ālam-e-ġham se pahle

kaun aayā thā tirī bazm meñ ham se pahle

sab karam hai tire andāz-e-sitam se ai dost

zauq-e-ġham dil ko na thā tere sitam se pahle

bandagī terī ḳhudā.ī se bahut hai aage

naqsh-e-sajda hai tire naqsh-e-qadam se pahle

qalb-e-insāñ ko hai ab phir usī aalam kī talāsh

terī mahfil thī jahāñ dair-o-haram se pahle

ham se mansūr zamāne meñ kahāñ haiñ 'aḳhtar'

daar tak aa nahīñ saktā koī ham se pahle

kaifiyat kya thi yahan aalam-e-gham se pahle

kaun aaya tha teri bazm mein hum se pahle

sab karam hai tere andaz-e-sitam se ai dost

zauq-e-gham dil ko na tha tere sitam se pahle

bandagi teri KHudai se bahut hai aage

naqsh-e-sajda hai tere naqsh-e-qadam se pahle

qalb-e-insan ko hai ab phir usi aalam ki talash

teri mahfil thi jahan dair-o-haram se pahle

hum se mansur zamane mein kahan hain 'aKHtar'

dar tak aa nahin sakta koi hum se pahle