haqiqat samne thi aur haqiqat se main ghafil tha

haqīqat sāmne thī aur haqīqat se maiñ ġhāfil thā

mirā dil terā jalva thā tirā jalva mirā dil thā

huā nazzāra lekin yuuñ ki nazzāra bhī mushkil thā

jahāñ tak kaam kartī thiiñ nigāheñ tuur haa.il thā

rahā jān-e-tamannā ban ke jab tak jān-e-mushkil thā

na thī mushkil to us ke ba.ad phir kuchh bhī na thā dil thā

nazar bahkī hijāb uTThā huī ik raushnī paidā

phir us ke ba.ad bachnā kyā sambhalnā saḳht mushkil thā

hijāb-e-ma.asiyat parda hī kis ke nūr-e-irfāñ kā

ki jannat se judā rah kar bhī maiñ jannat meñ dāḳhil thā

bachā kar kyuuñ Duboyā nā-ḳhudā ne is safīne ko

inhīñ maujoñ meñ tūfāñ thā inhīñ maujoñ meñ sāhil thā

sujūd-e-bandagī be-kār ijz-e-ishq lā-hāsil

ye sach hai maiñ tire qābil na thā tū mere qābil thā

hiqārat se jise Thukrā diyā bargashta sho.aloñ ne

vahī parvāna-e-be-kas faroġh-e-sham-e-mahfil thā

nishān-e-manzil-e-maqsūd jo āġhāz meñ paayā

vahī sahrā-ba-sahrā thā vahī manzil-ba-manzil thā

safīna Dūbne ke ba.ad in bātoñ se kyā hāsil

jo dariyā thā to dariyā thā jo sāhil thā to sāhil thā

vo mere paas thā 'shaukat' to maiñ ne kyuuñ nahīñ dekhā

jo vo mere muqābil thā to maiñ kis ke muqābil thā

haqiqat samne thi aur haqiqat se main ghafil tha

mera dil tera jalwa tha tera jalwa mera dil tha

hua nazzara lekin yun ki nazzara bhi mushkil tha

jahan tak kaam karti thin nigahen tur hail tha

raha jaan-e-tamanna ban ke jab tak jaan-e-mushkil tha

na thi mushkil to us ke baad phir kuchh bhi na tha dil tha

nazar bahki hijab uTTha hui ek raushni paida

phir us ke baad bachna kya sambhalna saKHt mushkil tha

hijab-e-masiyat parda hi kis ke nur-e-irfan ka

ki jannat se juda rah kar bhi main jannat mein daKHil tha

bacha kar kyun Duboya na-KHuda ne is safine ko

inhin maujon mein tufan tha inhin maujon mein sahil tha

sujud-e-bandagi be-kar ijz-e-ishq la-hasil

ye sach hai main tere qabil na tha tu mere qabil tha

hiqarat se jise Thukra diya bargashta shoalon ne

wahi parwana-e-be-kas farogh-e-sham-e-mahfil tha

nishan-e-manzil-e-maqsud jo aaghaz mein paya

wahi sahra-ba-sahra tha wahi manzil-ba-manzil tha

safina Dubne ke baad in baaton se kya hasil

jo dariya tha to dariya tha jo sahil tha to sahil tha

wo mere pas tha 'shaukat' to main ne kyun nahin dekha

jo wo mere muqabil tha to main kis ke muqabil tha