ranj-o-gham deta hai ya dad-e-wafa deta hai

ranj-o-ġham detā hai yā dād-e-vafā detā hai

dekhnā ye hai zamāna mujhe kyā detā hai

log ye pūchh rahe haiñ tire dīvāne se

kis kā dīvāna hai tū kis ko sadā detā hai

us kī azmat ko to ai dost ḳhudā hī jaane

kosne vāloñ ko jo shaḳhs duā detā hai

jaane kis soch meñ Duubā hai masīhā merā

zahr detā hai mujhe aur na davā detā hai

aaj ye dekhne niklā huuñ ba-sad shauq-o-ḳhulūs

kaun duniyā meñ vafāoñ kā sila detā hai

tujh ko bhūle hue ik umr huī hai lekin

dil kā har zaḳhm tujhe ab bhī duā detā hai

ab maiñ is shahr meñ rahtā huuñ jahāñ ai 'aḳhtar'

ik banātā hai makāñ dūsrā Dhā detā hai

ranj-o-gham deta hai ya dad-e-wafa deta hai

dekhna ye hai zamana mujhe kya deta hai

log ye puchh rahe hain tere diwane se

kis ka diwana hai tu kis ko sada deta hai

us ki azmat ko to ai dost KHuda hi jaane

kosne walon ko jo shaKHs dua deta hai

jaane kis soch mein Duba hai masiha mera

zahr deta hai mujhe aur na dawa deta hai

aaj ye dekhne nikla hun ba-sad shauq-o-KHulus

kaun duniya mein wafaon ka sila deta hai

tujh ko bhule hue ek umr hui hai lekin

dil ka har zaKHm tujhe ab bhi dua deta hai

ab main is shahr mein rahta hun jahan ai 'aKHtar'

ek banata hai makan dusra Dha deta hai