gham-khana-e-hasti mein hai mehman koi din aur
kar le hamein taqdir pareshan koi din aur

mar jaenge jab hum to bahut yaad karegi
ji bhar ke sata le shab-e-hijran koi din aur

turbat wo jagah hai ki jahan gham hai na hairat
hairat-kada-e-gham mein hain hairan koi din aur

yaron se gila hai na azizon se shikayat
taqdir mein hai hasrat-o-hirman koi din aur

pamal-e-khizan hone ko hain mast bahaaren
hai sair-e-gul-o-husn-e-gulistan koi din aur

hum sa na milega koi gham-dost jahan mein
tadpa le gham-e-gardish-e-dauran koi din aur

qabron ki jo raaten hain wo qabron mein katengi
aabaad hain ye zinda shabistan koi din aur

rangini-e-nuzhat pe na maghrur ho bulbul
hai rang bahaar-e-chamanistan koi din aur

aakhir ko wahi hum wahi zulmat-e-shab-e-gham
hai nur-e-rukh-e-mah-e-darakhshan koi din aur

aazad hon aalam se to aazad hun gham se
duniya hai hamare liye zindan koi din aur

hasti kabhi qudrat ka ek ehsan thi hum par
ab hum pe hai qudrat ka ye ehsan koi din aur

lanat thi gunahon ki nadamat mere haq mein
hai shukr ki us se hain pasheman koi din aur

shewan ko koi khuld-e-barin mein ye khabar de
duniya mein ab 'akhtar' bhi hai mehman koi din aur