sitare muntazir hain saz-e-kahkashan liye hue

sitāre muntazir haiñ sāz-e-kahkashāñ liye hue

zamīñ kā chāñd uTh rahā hai āsmāñ liye hue

jo din Dhalā huā rukī kuchh aisī shām-e-ġham jhukī

charāġh-e-zindagī kī lau uThī dhuāñ liye hue

kaThin agar Dagar meñ marhale to tez-tar hoñ valvale

chalo na is tarah matā.a-e-sargirāñ liye hue

na shāḳh-e-gul na āshiyāñ magar kareñge ḳhasta-jāñ

tavāf-e-bostāñ hazār dāstāñ liye hue

nahīñ ki zindagī hameñ kahāñ kahāñ liye phirī

hai yuuñ ki ham ga.e use kahāñ kahāñ liye hue

ye sāz-e-talḳhī-e-zamāñ hazār naġhma bar-zabāñ

ye yād-e-mahr-e-gul-ruḳhāñ ġham-e-jahāñ liye hue

ba-faiz-e-shām-e-mai-kadā nazar ko nūr-e-sāqiyā

ufuq pe chhā ga.ī ghaTā siyāhiyāñ liye hue

ye apnā apnā saath hai safar safar kī baat hai

kahīñ pe ham bhī aa mileñge kārvāñ liye hue

lahak lahak ke nāsehā bashārat-e-iram na de

ki ham vahāñ bhī rah chuke haiñ jism-o-jāñ liye hue

harīf-e-mudda.ī sahī magar vahī 'shahāb' huuñ

jo ab tak hai mizāj-e-dostāñ liye hue

sitare muntazir hain saz-e-kahkashan liye hue

zamin ka chand uTh raha hai aasman liye hue

jo din Dhala hua ruki kuchh aisi sham-e-gham jhuki

charagh-e-zindagi ki lau uThi dhuan liye hue

kaThin agar Dagar mein marhale to tez-tar hon walwale

chalo na is tarah mataa-e-sargiran liye hue

na shaKH-e-gul na aashiyan magar karenge KHasta-jaan

tawaf-e-bostan hazar dastan liye hue

nahin ki zindagi hamein kahan kahan liye phiri

hai yun ki hum gae use kahan kahan liye hue

ye saz-e-talKHi-e-zaman hazar naghma bar-zaban

ye yaad-e-mahr-e-gul-ruKHan gham-e-jahan liye hue

ba-faiz-e-sham-e-mai-kada nazar ko nur-e-saqiya

ufuq pe chha gai ghaTa siyahiyan liye hue

ye apna apna sath hai safar safar ki baat hai

kahin pe hum bhi aa milenge karwan liye hue

lahak lahak ke naseha bashaarat-e-iram na de

ki hum wahan bhi rah chuke hain jism-o-jaan liye hue

harif-e-muddai sahi magar wahi 'shahab' hun

jo ab tak hai mizaj-e-dostan liye hue