ye imtihan KHub hai husn-e-shabab ka

ye imtihān ḳhuub hai husn-e-shabāb kā

lenā thā dil bhī mujh se hī ḳhāna-ḳharāb kā

āñkhoñ se dekhnā hai tarīqa hijāb kā

rahtā hai dil meñ jalva yahāñ āftāb kā

do ḳhalq ko na rabt-e-adū se fareb-e-mehr

uThne do rozgār se Dar inqalāb kā

mai bhī thī aag ātish-e-hasrat huī nasīb

ai kaash daaġh siina meñ hotā sharāb kā

uThnā thā us ke ruḳh se qayāmat naqāb kā

aalam har ek zarra meñ hai āftāb kā

qat.a-e-vafā se raf.a-e-shikāyat muhāl hai

haañ silsila hai nāla-e-dil pech-o-tāb kā

ye hashr kyā huā abhī maiñ ne kiyā nahīñ

kuchh bhī bayān apne ġham-e-be-hisāb kā

martā huuñ rashk se ki muqaddar huā thā kyoñ

mahshar meñ mujh se yaar se uThnā hijāb kā

likkhā hai shauq-e-vasl to maiñ ne unheñ magar

dhaḌkā hai nāma-bar kā taraddud javāb kā

saaqī ke saath jāgeñ to so.eñ butoñ ke saath

lazzat vo jāgne kī hai ye lutf ḳhvāb kā

rone se apnī jā chukī nākāmī-e-azal

namnāk ho kar aa.ina tishna hai aab kā

maġhrūr-e-husn haiñ unheñ kyā yaad raah meñ

maarā huā hai kaun nigāh-e-itāb kā

dil ko judā.ī-e-sanam us par shakeb haif

ḳhūgar na ho gayā ho ye kāfir azaab kā

kahne se qabl chehre kā rang uḌ gayā yahāñ

sunñe se pahle samjhe vo haal iztirāb kā

nairangī-e-tilism-e-tamanna ko kyā kahūñ

aalam dikhā rahā hai zuleḳhā ke ḳhvāb kā

mādūm ho 'zakī' hai agar shauq-e-vasl asl

bād-e-fanā hai bahr meñ milnā habāb kā

ye imtihan KHub hai husn-e-shabab ka

lena tha dil bhi mujh se hi KHana-KHarab ka

aankhon se dekhna hai tariqa hijab ka

rahta hai dil mein jalwa yahan aaftab ka

do KHalq ko na rabt-e-adu se fareb-e-mehr

uThne do rozgar se Dar inqalab ka

mai bhi thi aag aatish-e-hasrat hui nasib

ai kash dagh sina mein hota sharab ka

uThna tha us ke ruKH se qayamat naqab ka

aalam har ek zarra mein hai aaftab ka

qata-e-wafa se rafa-e-shikayat muhaal hai

han silsila hai nala-e-dil pech-o-tab ka

ye hashr kya hua abhi main ne kiya nahin

kuchh bhi bayan apne gham-e-be-hisab ka

marta hun rashk se ki muqaddar hua tha kyon

mahshar mein mujh se yar se uThna hijab ka

likkha hai shauq-e-wasl to main ne unhen magar

dhaDka hai nama-bar ka taraddud jawab ka

saqi ke sath jagen to soen buton ke sath

lazzat wo jagne ki hai ye lutf KHwab ka

rone se apni ja chuki nakaami-e-azal

namnak ho kar aaina tishna hai aab ka

maghrur-e-husn hain unhen kya yaad rah mein

mara hua hai kaun nigah-e-itab ka

dil ko judai-e-sanam us par shakeb haif

KHugar na ho gaya ho ye kafir azab ka

kahne se qabl chehre ka rang uD gaya yahan

sunne se pahle samjhe wo haal iztirab ka

nairangi-e-tilism-e-tamanna ko kya kahun

aalam dikha raha hai zuleKHa ke KHwab ka

madum ho 'zaki' hai agar shauq-e-wasl asl

baad-e-fana hai bahr mein milna habab ka