qismat mein dard hai to dawa hi na launga
aaina-e-yaqin pe siyahi na launga

ya to mere bayan pe munsif yaqin kare
ya phir saza likhe main gawahi na launga

is daur-e-na-shanas mein kuchh bhi kahun magar
ab dastan mein zikr-e-wafa hi na launga

apnon se jang hai to bhale haar jaun main
lekin main apne sath sipahi na launga

dosh-e-karam pe bar hai jab harf-e-muddaa
phir main zaban pe harf-e-dua hi na launga

jab tum saf-e-adu mein chale jaoge to phir
dil mein malal-e-kor-nigahi na launga

maidan-e-kar-zar mein 'akhtar' kabhi bhi main
khauf-e-sinan-e-zill-e-ilahi na launga