sitare jab kisi mahtab ka qissa sunate hain

sitāre jab kisī mahtāb kā qissa sunāte haiñ

mire ḳhvāboñ ke āñgan meñ ujāle muskurāte haiñ

haqīqat sāmne laane se jab dāman bachāte haiñ

to gir kar aa.ine hāthoñ se ḳhud hī TuuT jaate haiñ

hameñ to muskurāne ke sivā kuchh bhī nahīñ aatā

hujūm-e-ġham meñ bhī ham log yuuñ hī muskurāte haiñ

chalo ai bāda-ḳhvāro chal ke un kī ḳhairiyat pūchheñ

sunā hai shaiḳh sāhab mai-kade meñ paa.e jaate haiñ

mohabbat meñ nadāmat ke sivā kuchh bhī nahīñ paayā

magar phir bhī mohabbat se kahāñ ham baaz aate haiñ

tum hī rūThe hue ho jab hamāre dil kī duniyā se

chalo phir ham bhī apnī zindagī se ruuTh jaate haiñ

yahī hai farq zāhid aur āshiq kī ibādat meñ

ye apnā sar jhukātā hai vo apnā dil jhukāte haiñ

mirī ummīd aksar chāhtī hai surḳh-rū honā

magar hālāt aksar mujh ko ā.īna dikhāte haiñ

sitare jab kisi mahtab ka qissa sunate hain

mere KHwabon ke aangan mein ujale muskuraate hain

haqiqat samne lane se jab daman bachate hain

to gir kar aaine hathon se KHud hi TuT jate hain

hamein to muskurane ke siwa kuchh bhi nahin aata

hujum-e-gham mein bhi hum log yun hi muskuraate hain

chalo ai baada-KHwaro chal ke un ki KHairiyat puchhen

suna hai shaiKH sahab mai-kade mein pae jate hain

mohabbat mein nadamat ke siwa kuchh bhi nahin paya

magar phir bhi mohabbat se kahan hum baz aate hain

tum hi ruThe hue ho jab hamare dil ki duniya se

chalo phir hum bhi apni zindagi se ruTh jate hain

yahi hai farq zahid aur aashiq ki ibaadat mein

ye apna sar jhukata hai wo apna dil jhukate hain

meri ummid aksar chahti hai surKH-ru hona

magar haalat aksar mujh ko aaina dikhate hain