qaem wajud-e-ishq se sara jahan hai

qaa.em vajūd-e-ishq se saarā jahān hai

dil hai to kā.enāt kī har shai javān hai

apne lahū se rakkhī hai buniyād-e-zindagī

ham se nizām-e-gulshan-e-hastī meñ jaan hai

har aa.ina hayāt kā dhuñdlā rahā hai aaj

chehroñ pe jaur-e-charḳh kā gahrā nishān hai

daulat-parast hirs-o-havas ke ġhulām haiñ

iflās kī jabīñ pe qanā.at kī shaan hai

jaage na kyoñ hayāt kā pur-shauq qāfila

phir vādī-e-vafā meñ sadā-e-azān hai

jis se ki tīrgī ko milī hai ziyā-e-nūr

vo āftāb saare zamāne kī jaan hai

jalvoñ kī hai numūd pas-e-tūr dekhnā

shāyad nigāh-e-shauq kā phir imtihān hai

'aḳhtar' maiñ phir rahā huuñ zamāne meñ nā-murād

nīche zamīñ hai sar pe mire āsmān hai

qaem wajud-e-ishq se sara jahan hai

dil hai to kaenat ki har shai jawan hai

apne lahu se rakkhi hai buniyaad-e-zindagi

hum se nizam-e-gulshan-e-hasti mein jaan hai

har aaina hayat ka dhundla raha hai aaj

chehron pe jaur-e-charKH ka gahra nishan hai

daulat-parast hirs-o-hawas ke ghulam hain

iflas ki jabin pe qanaat ki shan hai

jage na kyon hayat ka pur-shauq qafila

phir wadi-e-wafa mein sada-e-azan hai

jis se ki tirgi ko mili hai ziya-e-nur

wo aaftab sare zamane ki jaan hai

jalwon ki hai numud pas-e-tur dekhna

shayad nigah-e-shauq ka phir imtihan hai

'aKHtar' main phir raha hun zamane mein na-murad

niche zamin hai sar pe mere aasman hai