march 1907

zamāna aayā hai be-hijābī kā aam dīdār-e-yār hogā

sukūt thā parda-dār jis kā vo raaz ab āshkār hogā

guzar gayā ab vo daur-e-sāqī ki chhup ke piite the piine vaale

banegā saarā jahān mai-ḳhāna har koī bāda-ḳhvār hogā

kabhī jo āvāra-e-junūñ the vo bastiyoñ meñ phir aa baseñge

barahna-pā.ī vahī rahegī magar nayā ḳhārzār hogā

sunā diyā gosh-e-muntazir ko hijāz kī ḳhāmushī ne āḳhir

jo ahd sahrā.iyoñ se bāñdhā gayā thā phir ustuvār hogā

nikal ke sahrā se jis ne ruumā kī saltanat ko ulaT diyā thā

sunā hai ye qudsiyoñ se maiñ ne vo sher phir hoshiyār hogā

kiyā mirā tazkira jo saaqī ne bāda-ḳhvāroñ kī anjuman meñ

to pīr-e-mai-ḳhāna sun ke kahne lagā ki muñh-phaT hai ḳhvār hogā

dayār-e-maġhrib ke rahne vaalo ḳhudā kī bastī dukāñ nahīñ hai

kharā jise tum samajh rahe ho vo ab zar-e-kam-ayār hogā

tumhārī tahzīb apne ḳhanjar se aap hī ḳhud-kushī karegī

jo shāḳh-e-nāzuk pe āshiyāna banegā nā-pā.edār hogā

safīna-e-barg-e-gul banā legā qāfila mor-e-nā-tavāñ kā

hazār maujoñ kī ho kashākash magar ye dariyā se paar hogā

chaman meñ laala dikhātā phirtā hai daaġh apnā kalī kalī ko

ye jāntā hai ki is dikhāve se dil-jaloñ meñ shumār hogā

jo ek thā ai nigāh tū ne hazār kar ke hameñ dikhāyā

yahī agar kaifiyat hai terī to phir kise e'tibār hogā

kahā jo qumrī se maiñ ne ik din yahāñ ke āzād pā-ba-gil haiñ

tū ġhunche kahne lage hamāre chaman kā ye rāzdār hogā

ḳhudā ke āshiq to haiñ hazāroñ banoñ meñ phirte haiñ maare maare

maiñ us kā banda banūñgā jis ko ḳhudā ke bandoñ se pyaar hogā

ye rasm-e-bazm-e-fanā hai ai dil gunāh hai jumbish-e-nazar bhī

rahegī kyā aabrū hamārī jo tū yahāñ be-qarār hogā

maiñ zulmat-e-shab meñ le ke niklūñgā apne dar-māñda kārvāñ ko

sharar-fishāñ hogī aah merī nafas mirā shola-bār hogā

nahīñ hai ġhair-az-numūd kuchh bhī jo mudda.ā terī zindagī kā

tū ik nafas meñ jahāñ se miTnā tujhe misāl-e-sharār hogā

na pūchh 'iqbāl' kā Thikānā abhī vahī kaifiyat hai us kī

kahīñ sar-e-rāh-guzār baiThā sitam-kash-e-intizār hogā

zamana aaya hai be-hijabi ka aam didar-e-yar hoga

sukut tha parda-dar jis ka wo raaz ab aashkar hoga

guzar gaya ab wo daur-e-saqi ki chhup ke pite the pine wale

banega sara jahan mai-KHana har koi baada-KHwar hoga

kabhi jo aawara-e-junun the wo bastiyon mein phir aa basenge

barahna-pai wahi rahegi magar naya KHarzar hoga

suna diya gosh-e-muntazir ko hijaz ki KHamushi ne aaKHir

jo ahd sahraiyon se bandha gaya tha phir ustuwar hoga

nikal ke sahra se jis ne ruma ki saltanat ko ulaT diya tha

suna hai ye qudsiyon se main ne wo sher phir hoshiyar hoga

kiya mera tazkira jo saqi ne baada-KHwaron ki anjuman mein

to pir-e-mai-KHana sun ke kahne laga ki munh-phaT hai KHwar hoga

dayar-e-maghrib ke rahne walo KHuda ki basti dukan nahin hai

khara jise tum samajh rahe ho wo ab zar-e-kam-ayar hoga

tumhaari tahzib apne KHanjar se aap hi KHud-kushi karegi

jo shaKH-e-nazuk pe aashiyana banega na-paedar hoga

safina-e-barg-e-gul bana lega qafila mor-e-na-tawan ka

hazar maujon ki ho kashakash magar ye dariya se par hoga

chaman mein lala dikhata phirta hai dagh apna kali kali ko

ye jaanta hai ki is dikhawe se dil-jalon mein shumar hoga

jo ek tha ai nigah tu ne hazar kar ke hamein dikhaya

yahi agar kaifiyat hai teri to phir kise e'tibar hoga

kaha jo qumri se main ne ek din yahan ke aazad pa-ba-gil hain

tu ghunche kahne lage hamare chaman ka ye raazdar hoga

KHuda ke aashiq to hain hazaron banon mein phirte hain mare mare

main us ka banda banunga jis ko KHuda ke bandon se pyar hoga

ye rasm-e-bazm-e-fana hai ai dil gunah hai jumbish-e-nazar bhi

rahegi kya aabru hamari jo tu yahan be-qarar hoga

main zulmat-e-shab mein le ke niklunga apne dar-manda karwan ko

sharar-fishan hogi aah meri nafas mera shola-bar hoga

nahin hai ghair-az-numud kuchh bhi jo muddaa teri zindagi ka

tu ek nafas mein jahan se miTna tujhe misal-e-sharar hoga

na puchh 'iqbaal' ka Thikana abhi wahi kaifiyat hai us ki

kahin sar-e-rah-guzar baiTha sitam-kash-e-intizar hoga