zindagi manzil-e-mauhum ko pane ki lagan

zindagī manzil-e-mauhūm ko paane kī lagan

maut kahte haiñ jise jehd-e-musalsal kī thakan

kyā hai ye kaifiyat-e-mausam-e-gul-pairāhan

na kahīñ bād-e-bahārī na kahīñ bū-e-suḳhan

yuuñ farozāñ nazar aatī hai mohabbat kī kiran

jaise ik ghor añdhere meñ charāġh-e-raushan

ham jo aa.e haiñ gulistāñ se jhaTak kar dāman

kyā pareshāñ nazar aatī hai nasīm-e-gulshan

jism-e-ādam pe hai zartār libās-e-iḳhlās

ādmiyyat hai magar lāsha-e-be-gor-o-kafan

ab mire naqsh-e-kaf-e-pā haiñ nishān-e-manzil

kaam kuchh aa hī gayā shauq kā dīvāna-pan

ḳhalvat-e-dil meñ ab apnā bhī guzar mushkil hai

Daal dī tere tasavvur ne ye kaisī chilman

kyā kisī ārzū-e-shauq ne dam toḌ diyā

aaj mahsūs-e-rag-e-jāñ hai jo halkī sī chubhan

nigah-e-dost kī begāna-ravī ke sadqe

in dinoñ merī vafā ko hai talāsh-e-dushman

ham sā barbād-e-bahārāñ bhī na hogā koī

na koī shāḳh-e-nasheman na qafas hai na chaman

kyā tamāshā-e-nazar haiñ ye tere dīvāne

kabhī namnāk-nigāhī kabhī abrū pe shikan

ham se kuchh rasm-e-ta’alluq hī nahīñ hai na sahī

phir bhī begāna-e-ehsās-e-ta’alluq to na ban

ham ki begāna-e-arbāb-e-jahāñ haiñ 'aḳhtar'

na koī dost zamāne meñ na koī dushman

zindagi manzil-e-mauhum ko pane ki lagan

maut kahte hain jise jehd-e-musalsal ki thakan

kya hai ye kaifiyat-e-mausam-e-gul-pairahan

na kahin baad-e-bahaari na kahin bu-e-suKHan

yun farozan nazar aati hai mohabbat ki kiran

jaise ek ghor andhere mein charagh-e-raushan

hum jo aae hain gulistan se jhaTak kar daman

kya pareshan nazar aati hai nasim-e-gulshan

jism-e-adam pe hai zartar libas-e-iKHlas

aadmiyyat hai magar lasha-e-be-gor-o-kafan

ab mere naqsh-e-kaf-e-pa hain nishan-e-manzil

kaam kuchh aa hi gaya shauq ka diwana-pan

KHalwat-e-dil mein ab apna bhi guzar mushkil hai

Dal di tere tasawwur ne ye kaisi chilman

kya kisi aarzu-e-shauq ne dam toD diya

aaj mahsus-e-rag-e-jaan hai jo halki si chubhan

nigah-e-dost ki begana-rawi ke sadqe

in dinon meri wafa ko hai talash-e-dushman

hum sa barbaad-e-bahaaran bhi na hoga koi

na koi shaKH-e-nasheman na qafas hai na chaman

kya tamasha-e-nazar hain ye tere diwane

kabhi namnak-nigahi kabhi abru pe shikan

hum se kuchh rasm-e-ta’alluq hi nahin hai na sahi

phir bhi begana-e-ehsas-e-ta’alluq to na ban

hum ki begana-e-arbab-e-jahan hain 'aKHtar'

na koi dost zamane mein na koi dushman