bahadur-shah zafar

ishrat-e-dahr se vāqif bhī thā begāna bhī

terī shāhī meñ thī ik shān-e-faqīrāna bhī

zohd-o-pīrī meñ bhī ik jur.at-e-rindāna thī

sāmne maut ke tadbīr-e-harīfāna thī

tū ne ḳhud apne vatan ko kabhī rusvā na kiyā

tū ne to qaum ke nāmūs kā saudā na kiyā

tū bhī ehsās ko chāñdī se kuchal saktā thā

tū bhī mausam kī tarah rang badal saktā thā

tū bhī kyā baat thī ġhairat kī tijārat kartā

aish ke vāste īmān ko ġhārat kartā

tū bhī kyā baat thī fitrat ko ḳhafā kar detā

sunnat-e-jāfar-o-sādiq bhī adā kar detā

tū magar kab thā kisī rāj-dulāre kī tarah

āḳhirī vaqt meñ TuuTā to sitāre kī tarah

soz-e-pinhāñ ko tarab-ḳhez banāyā tū ne

har tabāhī ko kaleje se lagāyā tū ne

har ġham-e-dahr ko mehmān kiyā hai tū ne

puurī ik nasl ko qurbān kiyā hai tū ne

dushman-e-dīñ ne kiye tere asar ke TukḌe

daar par khīñch diye tere jigar ke TukḌe

saare aalam ne tire shauq kā aalam dekhā

ya.anī qurbānī-e-paiham ko mujassam dekhā

bārish-e-nūr to gulshan meñ rahī shaam se kyā

zindagī raqs to kartī rahī anjām se kyā

kitnī vus.at tire jazbe meñ tire ḳhuun meñ hai

bazm dehlī meñ thī ḳhalvat tirī rangūn meñ hai

tere andāz chale haiñ sahar-o-shām ke saath

tere armān rahe gardish-e-ayyām ke saath

terī betābī-e-dil paikar-e-gul tak pahuñchī

terī āvāz thī jo bose ke dil tak pahuñchī

tū ne dīvānoñ ko ik jazba-e-vahdat baḳhshā

tere marqad ne unheñ shauq-e-shahādat baḳhshā

ye haqīqat bhī khulī rah ga.ī duniyā taktī

aadmī martā hai tahrīk nahīñ mar saktī

tere anjām kā charchā to nahīñ kar saktā

bad-nasībī kā maiñ shikva to nahīñ kar saktā

saltanat rah na ga.ī us kā bharosā kyā thā

jo milī auroñ se us chiiz ko samjhā kyā thā

den hai tere lahū kī tirā fan qabze meñ

aaj bhī saltanat-e-sher-o-suḳhan qabze meñ

jang meñ haar ke bhī fan meñ 'zafar' kyā kahiye

shab ke hāthoñ se ye tanzīm-e-sahar kyā kahiye

tujh ko andhā to kiyā miT na sakā nūr-e-kalām

ab bhī chauñkātā hai insāñ ko tirā soz-e-kalām

rāgnī ḳhuun meñ apne hī Dubo kar rakh dī

zindagī sher-o-suḳhan meñ bhī samo kar rakh dī

'zauq' se baḌh ke tire sher meñ ra.anā.ī hai

'dard' se baḌh ke tire dard meñ gahrā.ī hai

hashr tak yaad rahegā ye hai taqdīr tirī

sāhib-e-dil kī nigāhoñ meñ hai tasvīr tirī

terī satvat pe na shāhī pe qalam uTThā hai

ek insāñ kī tabāhī pe qalam uTThā hai

ishrat-e-dahr se waqif bhi tha begana bhi

teri shahi mein thi ek shan-e-faqirana bhi

zohd-o-piri mein bhi ek jurat-e-rindana thi

samne maut ke tadbir-e-harifana thi

tu ne KHud apne watan ko kabhi ruswa na kiya

tu ne to qaum ke namus ka sauda na kiya

tu bhi ehsas ko chandi se kuchal sakta tha

tu bhi mausam ki tarah rang badal sakta tha

tu bhi kya baat thi ghairat ki tijarat karta

aish ke waste iman ko ghaarat karta

tu bhi kya baat thi fitrat ko KHafa kar deta

sunnat-e-jafar-o-sadiq bhi ada kar deta

tu magar kab tha kisi raj-dulare ki tarah

aaKHiri waqt mein TuTa to sitare ki tarah

soz-e-pinhan ko tarab-KHez banaya tu ne

har tabahi ko kaleje se lagaya tu ne

har gham-e-dahr ko mehman kiya hai tu ne

puri ek nasl ko qurban kiya hai tu ne

dushman-e-din ne kiye tere asar ke TukDe

dar par khinch diye tere jigar ke TukDe

sare aalam ne tere shauq ka aalam dekha

yani qurbani-e-paiham ko mujassam dekha

barish-e-nur to gulshan mein rahi sham se kya

zindagi raqs to karti rahi anjam se kya

kitni wusat tere jazbe mein tere KHun mein hai

bazm dehli mein thi KHalwat teri rangun mein hai

tere andaz chale hain sahar-o-sham ke sath

tere arman rahe gardish-e-ayyam ke sath

teri betabi-e-dil paikar-e-gul tak pahunchi

teri aawaz thi jo bose ke dil tak pahunchi

tu ne diwanon ko ek jazba-e-wahdat baKHsha

tere marqad ne unhen shauq-e-shahadat baKHsha

ye haqiqat bhi khuli rah gai duniya takti

aadmi marta hai tahrik nahin mar sakti

tere anjam ka charcha to nahin kar sakta

bad-nasibi ka main shikwa to nahin kar sakta

saltanat rah na gai us ka bharosa kya tha

jo mili auron se us chiz ko samjha kya tha

den hai tere lahu ki tera fan qabze mein

aaj bhi saltanat-e-sher-o-suKHan qabze mein

jang mein haar ke bhi fan mein 'zafar' kya kahiye

shab ke hathon se ye tanzim-e-sahar kya kahiye

tujh ko andha to kiya miT na saka nur-e-kalam

ab bhi chaunkata hai insan ko tera soz-e-kalam

ragni KHun mein apne hi Dubo kar rakh di

zindagi sher-o-suKHan mein bhi samo kar rakh di

'zauq' se baDh ke tere sher mein ranai hai

'dard' se baDh ke tere dard mein gahrai hai

hashr tak yaad rahega ye hai taqdir teri

sahib-e-dil ki nigahon mein hai taswir teri

teri satwat pe na shahi pe qalam uTTha hai

ek insan ki tabahi pe qalam uTTha hai