rang-e-tahzib-o-tamaddun ke shanasa hum bhi hain

rañg-e-tahzīb-o-tamaddun ke shanāsā ham bhī haiñ

sūrat-e-ā.īna marhūn-e-tamāshā ham bhī haiñ

haal o mustaqbil kā kyā ham ko sabaq dete haiñ aap

is qadar to vāqif-e-imroz-o-fardā ham bhī haiñ

bā-dil-e-nā-ḳhvāsta hañste haiñ duniyā ke liye

varna sach ye hai pashemān-e-tamannā ham bhī haiñ

kuchh safīne haiñ ki tūfāñ se hai jin kā sāz-bāz

dekhne vāloñ meñ ik bairūn-e-dariyā ham bhī haiñ

dekhnā hai dekh lo uThtī huī mahfil kā rañg

subah ke bujhte charāġhoñ kā sambhālā ham bhī haiñ

kāġhzī malbūs meñ ubhrī hai har shakl-e-hayāt

ret kī chādar pe ik naqsh-e-kaf-e-pā ham bhī haiñ

jā-ba-jā bikhre nazar aate haiñ āsār-e-qadīm

pī ga.iiñ jis ko guzargāheñ vo dariyā ham bhī haiñ

us haram kī zeb-o-zīnat ko ḳhudā rakkhe magar

mujrimān-e-ahd-o-paimān-e-kalīsā ham bhī haiñ

ham se gūñjā hai adam-ābād kā dasht-e-sukūt

ālam-e-arvāh kā pahlā dhamākā ham bhī haiñ

ham jab uTh jā.eñge ye uqda bhī hal ho jā.egā

raunaq-e-mahfil charāġhoñ ke alāva ham bhī haiñ

ḳhaak kyuuñ hotā nahīñ jal kar hisār-e-āb-o-gil

ye agar sach hai tire jalvoñ kā parda ham bhī haiñ

ham pe jaane kaun sā tūfān thopā jā.egā

jaane kis ta.azīr kī ḳhātir gavārā ham bhī haiñ

ye sar-e-fihrist aur ehsān-'dānish' shādbāsh

mujrmoñ meñ aap ke nazdīk goyā ham bhī haiñ

rang-e-tahzib-o-tamaddun ke shanasa hum bhi hain

surat-e-aina marhun-e-tamasha hum bhi hain

haal o mustaqbil ka kya hum ko sabaq dete hain aap

is qadar to waqif-e-imroz-o-farda hum bhi hain

ba-dil-e-na-KHwasta hanste hain duniya ke liye

warna sach ye hai pasheman-e-tamanna hum bhi hain

kuchh safine hain ki tufan se hai jin ka saz-baz

dekhne walon mein ek bairun-e-dariya hum bhi hain

dekhna hai dekh lo uThti hui mahfil ka rang

subah ke bujhte charaghon ka sambhaala hum bhi hain

kaghzi malbus mein ubhri hai har shakl-e-hayat

ret ki chadar pe ek naqsh-e-kaf-e-pa hum bhi hain

ja-ba-ja bikhre nazar aate hain aasar-e-qadim

pi gain jis ko guzargahen wo dariya hum bhi hain

us haram ki zeb-o-zinat ko KHuda rakkhe magar

mujriman-e-ahd-o-paiman-e-kalisa hum bhi hain

hum se gunja hai adam-abaad ka dasht-e-sukut

aalam-e-arwah ka pahla dhamaka hum bhi hain

hum jab uTh jaenge ye uqda bhi hal ho jaega

raunaq-e-mahfil charaghon ke alawa hum bhi hain

KHak kyun hota nahin jal kar hisar-e-ab-o-gil

ye agar sach hai tere jalwon ka parda hum bhi hain

hum pe jaane kaun sa tufan thopa jaega

jaane kis tazir ki KHatir gawara hum bhi hain

ye sar-e-fihrist aur ehsan-'danish' shadbash

mujrmon mein aap ke nazdik goya hum bhi hain