kal bhi tha aur aaj bhi hai

shorish-e-bātil shor-e-salāsil kal bhī thā aur aaj bhī hai

mard-e-mujāhid madd-e-muqābil kal bhī thā aur aaj bhī hai

rāh-ravān-e-‘ishq kā pesha koh-kanī aur tesha-zanī

koh-e-girāñ is raah meñ haa.il kal bhī thā aur aaj bhī hai

husn abhī tak dām-e-fareb-e-tafraqa-o-tafrīq meñ hai

'ishq ḳhulūs-e-‘ām kā hāmil kal bhī thā aur aaj bhī hai

fitna-e-sīm-o-zar meñ zamāna gum hai lekin ye fitna

tan kā muhāfiz ruuh kā qātil kal bhī thā aur aaj bhī hai

aaj bhī vaqf-e-ḳhauf-e-talātum kashtī-e-ahl-e-dānish hai

ġharq muhīt-e-mauj meñ sāhil kal bhī thā aur aaj bhī hai

tāb-e-samā’at aaj nahīñ hai murda-dilān-e-gulshan meñ

varna chaman meñ shor-e-‘anādil kal bhī thā aur aaj bhī hai

jabr-e-mashiyyat se ab ham haiñ talḳh-navā.ī par majbūr

varna hamāre siine meñ dil kal bhī thā aur aaj bhī hai

haath meñ sham’-e-rushd-o-hidāyat lab par naġhma-e-mehr-o-vafā

vaqf-e-tag-o-dau shā’ir-e-kāmil kal bhī thā aur aaj bhī hai

'ashk' zarūrat hai is ko bas ek hī zarb-e-kāmil kī

qasr-e-shahanshāhī mutazalzal kal bhī thā aur aaj bhī hai

shorish-e-baatil shor-e-salasil kal bhi tha aur aaj bhi hai

mard-e-mujahid madd-e-muqabil kal bhi tha aur aaj bhi hai

rah-rawan-e-‘ishq ka pesha koh-kani aur tesha-zani

koh-e-giran is rah mein hail kal bhi tha aur aaj bhi hai

husn abhi tak dam-e-fareb-e-tafraqa-o-tafriq mein hai

'ishq KHulus-e-‘am ka hamil kal bhi tha aur aaj bhi hai

fitna-e-sim-o-zar mein zamana gum hai lekin ye fitna

tan ka muhafiz ruh ka qatil kal bhi tha aur aaj bhi hai

aaj bhi waqf-e-KHauf-e-talatum kashti-e-ahl-e-danish hai

gharq muhit-e-mauj mein sahil kal bhi tha aur aaj bhi hai

tab-e-sama’at aaj nahin hai murda-dilan-e-gulshan mein

warna chaman mein shor-e-‘anadil kal bhi tha aur aaj bhi hai

jabr-e-mashiyyat se ab hum hain talKH-nawai par majbur

warna hamare sine mein dil kal bhi tha aur aaj bhi hai

hath mein sham’-e-rushd-o-hidayat lab par naghma-e-mehr-o-wafa

waqf-e-tag-o-dau sha’ir-e-kaamil kal bhi tha aur aaj bhi hai

'ashk' zarurat hai is ko bas ek hi zarb-e-kaamil ki

qasr-e-shahanshahi mutazalzal kal bhi tha aur aaj bhi hai