us tilism-e-dahar mein hain surat-e-diwana hum

us tilism-e-dahar meñ haiñ sūrat-e-dīvāna ham

ho ga.e sirf talāsh-e-vus.at-e-vīrāna ham

haiñ sharīk-e-bazm va.az-o-mahfil-e-rindāna ham

zīnat-e-masjid hamīñ haiñ raunaq-e-mai-kHāna ham

yādgār-e-vārdāt soz-e-ulfat jaan kar

rakhte haiñ chun chun ke aurāq par parvāna ham

ik zarā sī baat kahte haiñ hazāroñ rañg se

yuuñ banā dete haiñ har afsāne ko afsāna ham

hādsāt-e-ālam-e-imkāñ kā ho ehsās kyā

haiñ ḳhumār-e-zindagī se be-ḳhabar mastāna ham

haañ jalā.e jā hameñ sham.a-e-tajallī shauq se

bazm meñ hamrāh laate haiñ dil parvāna ham

har qadam kaif nigāh-e-mast se jhuk jhuk gayā

siikh liiñ pā-e-mizzha se laġhzish-e-mastāna ham

hone vaalī haiñ ba-qadr-e-zarf mai-āshāmiyāñ

kar liiñ sa.ī vusat-o-gunjā.ish-e-paimāna ham

shab ko thā mahfil meñ kitnā majma.a ahl-e-vafā

sub.h ko paate haiñ ambār par parvāna ham

baiTh sakte haiñ kahīñ thak kar rah-e-dushvār meñ

himmat-e-mardāna ham ai himmat-e-mardāna ham

is se baḌh kar chāhte kyā rif'at-e-kāshāna ham

naam 'aḳhtar' hai rahā karte haiñ bālā-e-falak

is se baḌh kar chāhte kyā rif'at-e-kāshāna ham

us tilism-e-dahar mein hain surat-e-diwana hum

ho gae sirf talash-e-wusat-e-virana hum

hain sharik-e-bazm waz-o-mahfil-e-rindana hum

zinat-e-masjid hamin hain raunaq-e-mai-kHana hum

yaadgar-e-wardat soz-e-ulfat jaan kar

rakhte hain chun chun ke auraq par parwana hum

ek zara si baat kahte hain hazaron rang se

yun bana dete hain har afsane ko afsana hum

hadsat-e-alam-e-imkan ka ho ehsas kya

hain KHumar-e-zindagi se be-KHabar mastana hum

han jalae ja hamein shama-e-tajalli shauq se

bazm mein hamrah late hain dil parwana hum

har qadam kaif nigah-e-mast se jhuk jhuk gaya

sikh lin pa-e-mizzha se laghzish-e-mastana hum

hone wali hain ba-qadr-e-zarf mai-ashamiyan

kar lin sai wusat-o-gunjaish-e-paimana hum

shab ko tha mahfil mein kitna majma ahl-e-wafa

subh ko pate hain ambar par parwana hum

baiTh sakte hain kahin thak kar rah-e-dushwar mein

himmat-e-mardana hum ai himmat-e-mardana hum

is se baDh kar chahte kya rif'at-e-kashana hum

nam 'aKHtar' hai raha karte hain baala-e-falak

is se baDh kar chahte kya rif'at-e-kashana hum