yahī tashvīsh shab-o-roz hai bangāle meñ

lucknow phir kabhī dikhlā.e muqaddar merā

yahi tashwish shab-o-roz hai bangale mein

lucknow phir kabhi dikhlae muqaddar mera

ulfat ne tirī ham ko to rakkhā na kahīñ kā

dariyā kā na jañgal kā samā kā na zamīñ kā

ulfat ne teri hum ko to rakkha na kahin ka

dariya ka na jangal ka sama ka na zamin ka

dar-o-dīvār pe hasrat se nazar karte haiñ

ḳhush raho ahl-e-vatan ham to safar karte haiñ

dar-o-diwar pe hasrat se nazar karte hain

KHush raho ahl-e-watan hum to safar karte hain

be-muravvat ho bevafā ho tum

apne matlab ke āshnā ho tum

be-murawwat ho bewafa ho tum

apne matlab ke aashna ho tum

kamar dhokā dahan uqda ġhazāl āñkheñ parī chehra

shikam hiirā badan ḳhushbū jabīñ dariyā zabāñ iisā

kamar dhoka dahan uqda ghazal aankhen pari chehra

shikam hira badan KHushbu jabin dariya zaban isa

yaad meñ apne yār-e-jānī kī

ham ne mar mar ke zindagānī kī

yaad mein apne yar-e-jaani ki

hum ne mar mar ke zindagani ki

aaj kal lucknow meñ ai 'aḳhtar'

dhuum hai terī ḳhush-bayānī kī

aaj kal lucknow mein ai 'aKHtar'

dhum hai teri KHush-bayani ki

turāb-e-pā-e-hasīnān-e-lakhna.ū hai ye

ye ḳhāksār hai 'aḳhtar' ko naqsh-e-pā kahiye

turab-e-pa-e-hasinan-e-lakhnau hai ye

ye KHaksar hai 'aKHtar' ko naqsh-e-pa kahiye

gilaurī raqīboñ ne bhejī hai sāhab

kisī aur ko bhī khilā lījiyegā

gilauri raqibon ne bheji hai sahab

kisi aur ko bhi khila lijiyega

mujhī ko vā.izā pand-o-nasīhat

kabhī us ko bhī samjhāyā to hotā

mujhi ko waiza pand-o-nasihat

kabhi us ko bhi samjhaya to hota

barā.e-sair mujh sā riñd mai-ḳhāne meñ gar aa.e

gire sāġhar luñDhe shīsha hañse saaqī bahe dariyā

barae-sair mujh sa rind mai-KHane mein gar aae

gire saghar lunDhe shisha hanse saqi bahe dariya

'aḳhtar'-e-zār bhī ho mus.haf-e-ruḳh par shaidā

faal ye nek hai qur.ān se ham dekhte haiñ

'aKHtar'-e-zar bhi ho mushaf-e-ruKH par shaida

fal ye nek hai quran se hum dekhte hain