ek shair ka KHwab

kahīñ ik shab jo apne bistar-e-rāhat pe jā leTā

rahā hai chain thoḌī der āñkheñ lag ga.iiñ āḳhir

balā kā ḳhvāb-e-rāhat meñ mujhe manzar nazar aayā

qalam meñ ye kahāñ tāqat ki us ko kar sake zāhir

nazar aayā mujhe maidān jis meñ hū kā aalam thā

na apnā ham-safar koī na apnā koī ham-dam thā

daraḳhtoñ ke nishāñ kuchh the magar sail-e-havādis se

kuchh aise miT chale the ye samajhnā saḳht mushkil thā

ki ye the kaun se ashjār kaise phal ye laate the

koī chashma ravāñ thā yā ki bahtā thā koī dariyā

kabhī ye apnī sarsabzī kā aalam bhī dikhāte the

ki aise hī hamesha ḳhushk lakḌī ke ye tode the

makānoñ kā ye aalam thā ki kohna aur shikasta the

kahīñ dīvār baaqī thī kahīñ us kā nishāñ baaqī

chhatoñ kī munhadim sūrat ye kahtī thī ki puḳhta the

magar aisī tabāhī thī ki chhat kā thā gumāñ baaqī

ilāhī ḳhair karnā saḳht uljhan thī kahāñ pahuñchā

nazar aatī ḳharābī hī ḳharābī thī jahāñ pahuñchā

zarā aage baḌhā dekhā registān saarā thā

jahāñ maiñ thā kuchh us se duur hī bijlī sī chamkī thī

kuaañ jo thā vo bilkul ḳhushk sūkhā saarā dariyā thā

harārat dhuup meñ aisī zamīñ saarī dahaktī thī

kahāñ abr-e-karam ik qahr kā ḳhurshīd-e-tābāñ thā

havā-e-tund thī ik samt lahrātā bayābāñ thā

mujhe hairat thī itne meñ nidā ye ġhaib se aa.ī

ki o āvāra-e-ġhurbat banā kyoñ tū hai ā.īna

nahīñ is sarzamīñ meñ se kyā tujhe kuchh bhī shanāsā.ī

are ye vo zamīñ hai jis pe thā firdaus kā dhokā

yahī hai vo zamīñ ilm-o-amal kī jis kā charchā thā

yahīñ se ilm-e-dīñ yūnāniyoñ ne aa ke sīkhā thā

yakāyak us pe phailī vo havā buġhz-o-adāvat kī

ki bhaa.ī ko huī bhaa.ī se behad dushmanī paidā

na apnoñ meñ rahī ulfat na yāroñ meñ shanāsā.ī

ḳhudī kī aag ne har fard meñ kī ḳhud-sarī paidā

jalā kar jis ne dekho un ko āḳhir ḳhaak kar Daalā

miTā kar un ko misl-e-ḳhas jahāñ ko paak lā

kahin ek shab jo apne bistar-e-rahat pe ja leTa

raha hai chain thoDi der aankhen lag gain aaKHir

bala ka KHwab-e-rahat mein mujhe manzar nazar aaya

qalam mein ye kahan taqat ki us ko kar sake zahir

nazar aaya mujhe maidan jis mein hu ka aalam tha

na apna ham-safar koi na apna koi ham-dam tha

daraKHton ke nishan kuchh the magar sail-e-hawadis se

kuchh aise miT chale the ye samajhna saKHt mushkil tha

ki ye the kaun se ashjar kaise phal ye late the

koi chashma rawan tha ya ki bahta tha koi dariya

kabhi ye apni sarsabzi ka aalam bhi dikhate the

ki aise hi hamesha KHushk lakDi ke ye tode the

makanon ka ye aalam tha ki kohna aur shikasta the

kahin diwar baqi thi kahin us ka nishan baqi

chhaton ki munhadim surat ye kahti thi ki puKHta the

magar aisi tabahi thi ki chhat ka tha guman baqi

ilahi KHair karna saKHt uljhan thi kahan pahuncha

nazar aati KHarabi hi KHarabi thi jahan pahuncha

zara aage baDha dekha registan sara tha

jahan main tha kuchh us se dur hi bijli si chamki thi

kuan jo tha wo bilkul KHushk sukha sara dariya tha

hararat dhup mein aisi zamin sari dahakti thi

kahan abr-e-karam ek qahr ka KHurshid-e-taban tha

hawa-e-tund thi ek samt lahraata bayaban tha

mujhe hairat thi itne mein nida ye ghaib se aai

ki o aawara-e-ghurbat bana kyon tu hai aaina

nahin is sarzamin mein se kya tujhe kuchh bhi shanasai

are ye wo zamin hai jis pe tha firdaus ka dhoka

yahi hai wo zamin ilm-o-amal ki jis ka charcha tha

yahin se ilm-e-din yunaniyon ne aa ke sikha tha

yakayak us pe phaili wo hawa bughz-o-adawat ki

ki bhai ko hui bhai se behad dushmani paida

na apnon mein rahi ulfat na yaron mein shanasai

KHudi ki aag ne har fard mein ki KHud-sari paida

jala kar jis ne dekho un ko aaKHir KHak kar Dala

miTa kar un ko misl-e-KHas jahan ko pak la