kab karoge hamara istiqbaal

vaqt kā aisā ye jazīra hai

jahāñ din aur raat kuchh bhī nahīñ

zehn-o-dil ab haiñ aise aalam meñ

hosh-o-be-hoshī meñ nahiñ kuchh farq

ajnabiyyat hai ek ḳhalā hai ye

yahāñ ḳhud kā patā nahiñ miltā

phir bhī kuchh to sunā.ī detā hai

chand āvāzeñ aur ek dastak

har sadā kā kuchh aisā lahja hai

jaise dahshat ho dard ho maujūd

jaise ismat ko koī ḳhatra ho

har sadā kar rahī hai ye minnat

khol do khol do kivāḌ apne

vaqt guzrā dimāġh jaag gayā

dil ne bhī ye sadā.eñ sun hī liiñ

ham samajhte the tum to shā.er ho

narm dil hoge mehrbāñ hoge

ham ko apne yahāñ sharan doge

maiñ nai jaanā ki merī DevḌhī par

zaḳhmī hālat meñ kuchh paḌe the ḳhayāl

kuchh hare zaḳhm chand taaza malāl

an-sune jumle an-kahe alfāz

isti.ārāt zāviye jazbāt

an-chhue kuchh muhāvare ilhām

sab kī āñkhoñ meñ thā bas ek savāl

kab karoge hamārā istiqbāl

waqt ka aisa ye jazira hai

jahan din aur raat kuchh bhi nahin

zehn-o-dil ab hain aise aalam mein

hosh-o-be-hoshi mein nahin kuchh farq

ajnabiyyat hai ek KHala hai ye

yahan KHud ka pata nahin milta

phir bhi kuchh to sunai deta hai

chand aawazen aur ek dastak

har sada ka kuchh aisa lahja hai

jaise dahshat ho dard ho maujud

jaise ismat ko koi KHatra ho

har sada kar rahi hai ye minnat

khol do khol do kiwaD apne

waqt guzra dimagh jag gaya

dil ne bhi ye sadaen sun hi lin

hum samajhte the tum to shaer ho

narm dil hoge mehrban hoge

hum ko apne yahan sharan doge

main nai jaana ki meri DewDhi par

zaKHmi haalat mein kuchh paDe the KHayal

kuchh hare zaKHm chand taza malal

an-sune jumle an-kahe alfaz

istiaraat zawiye jazbaat

an-chhue kuchh muhaware ilham

sab ki aankhon mein tha bas ek sawal

kab karoge hamara istiqbaal