kaise jale hain baal-o-par ye to sharar se puchhiye

kaise jale haiñ bāl-o-par ye to sharar se pūchhiye

mere junūñ kā vāqi.a mere jigar se pūchhiye

dil ko sukūñ na mil sakā tere baġhair 'umr bhar

tīr-e-nazar kī baat hai zauq-e-nazar se pūchhiye

merā to dil nikāl kar jaise hayāt rakh ga.ī

maiñ ne kyā thā us kā kyā us ke hī shar se pūchhiye

haa.e vo ik maqām par rahbar jahāñ pe ro diyā

ahl-e-safar pe guzrī kyā gard-e-safar se pūchhiye

mujh se ye pūchhiye mujhe kyā hai diyā hayāt ne

ahl-e-nazar kī baat to ahl-e-nazar se pūchhiye

nāzuk sī ek baat par tanhā jahān meñ ye dil

kitnā taḌap ke rah gayā dard-e-bashar se pūchhiye

insāñ ko kyā milā batā hastī tire vajūd se

kaise huī ye raushnī shams-o-qamar se pūchhiye

qaid-e-hayāt meñ bhī haañ shauq-e-sujūd ne mire

sajde luTā.e kitne haiñ un ke hī dar se pūchhiye

'ashraf' batā.e zindagī kaise ki sharmsār hai

apnā maqām aap ḳhud apnī nazar se pūchhiye

kaise jale hain baal-o-par ye to sharar se puchhiye

mere junun ka waqia mere jigar se puchhiye

dil ko sukun na mil saka tere baghair 'umr bhar

tir-e-nazar ki baat hai zauq-e-nazar se puchhiye

mera to dil nikal kar jaise hayat rakh gai

main ne kya tha us ka kya us ke hi shar se puchhiye

hae wo ek maqam par rahbar jahan pe ro diya

ahl-e-safar pe guzri kya gard-e-safar se puchhiye

mujh se ye puchhiye mujhe kya hai diya hayat ne

ahl-e-nazar ki baat to ahl-e-nazar se puchhiye

nazuk si ek baat par tanha jahan mein ye dil

kitna taDap ke rah gaya dard-e-bashar se puchhiye

insan ko kya mila bata hasti tere wajud se

kaise hui ye raushni shams-o-qamar se puchhiye

qaid-e-hayat mein bhi han shauq-e-sujud ne mere

sajde luTae kitne hain un ke hi dar se puchhiye

'ashraf' batae zindagi kaise ki sharmsar hai

apna maqam aap KHud apni nazar se puchhiye