be-sabab rah mein kyon aah-o-buka ki hogi

be-sabab raah meñ kyoñ āh-o-bukā kī hogī

zindagī ham ne kahīñ tujh se ḳhatā kī hogī

vahī taptī huī dhartī vahī uḌte bādal

shahr-dar-shahr yahī shakl havā kī hogī

phir janam leñge milan jism kā hogā lekin

vahī chādar vahī dīvār hayā kī hogī

sang-o-dīvār se har shahr meñ rishta hogā

dushmanī ham se magar āb-o-havā kī hogī

ḳhālī ḳhālī sī mirī tarh se bikhrī bikhrī

miltī-jultī yahī tasvīr ḳhalā kī hogī

merī āvāz pe āvāz na aa.ī 'māhir'

koī majbūrī idhar koh-e-nidā kī hogī

be-sabab rah mein kyon aah-o-buka ki hogi

zindagi hum ne kahin tujh se KHata ki hogi

wahi tapti hui dharti wahi uDte baadal

shahr-dar-shahr yahi shakl hawa ki hogi

phir janam lenge milan jism ka hoga lekin

wahi chadar wahi diwar haya ki hogi

sang-o-diwar se har shahr mein rishta hoga

dushmani hum se magar aab-o-hawa ki hogi

KHali KHali si meri tarh se bikhri bikhri

milti-julti yahi taswir KHala ki hogi

meri aawaz pe aawaz na aai 'mahir'

koi majburi idhar koh-e-nida ki hogi