awwalin shart hai insan ka insan hona
baad ki baat hai hindu ya musalman hona

jo bhi aata hai wo kaliyon ko masal jata hai
ek hasin khel hai gulshan ka nigahban hona

ahl-e-danish ne kabhi khwab mein socha bhi na tha
jurm ban jaega is daur mein insan hona

adl hai maslahat-e-waqt ke panje se asir
sakht mushkil hai yahan sahab-e-iman hona

jashn-e-be-chaargi jis waqt manate hon awam
na-munasib sa hai us waqt ghazal-khwan hona

ban gaya jehl ke badhne ka sabab ai 'ishrat'
yak-ba-yak ilm ki shama ka farozan hona