be-khudi mein pahlu-e-iqrar pahle to na tha
itna ghafil wo but-e-ayyar pahle to na tha

ahl-e-dil jate hain ab dar-o-rasan ki rah se
is qadar mushkil visal-e-yar pahle to na tha

misr ki galiyan utar aai hain apne shahr mein
husn walon ka ye haal-e-zar pahle to na tha

aa rahi hai khud-bakhud shayad koi manzil qarib
mehrban yun qafila-salar pahle to na tha

us mein bhi kuchh raaz hai warna dayar-e-husn mein
dard-mandon ka koi gham-khwar pahle to na tha

hosh mein aane lage hain un bahaaron ke tufail
warna diwanon ka ye kirdar pahle to na tha

roz-o-shab apne liye hain qatl ke fatwe 'qatil'
mufti-e-shahr is qadar din-dar pahle to na tha