ilm kya shai hai dosto jaano
ilm ki ahmiyat ko pahchano

ilm kya shai hai ek neamat hai
ilm kya shai hai ek daulat hai

ilm kya shai hai wajh azmat hai
ilm kya shai hai rab ki rahmat hai

kya hain aadab-e-zindagi bachcho
hum ko jab ilm hi nahin hota

shakl-o-surat ke ma-siwa hargiz
aadmi aadmi nahin hota

na haram-o-halal ki tafriq
aur na kuchh imtiyaz-e-nek-o-bad

kuchh jo hota to pet bharna hi
zindagi ka azim-tar maqsad

zindagi ke har ek shoba mein
dosto ilm ki zarurat hai

sari duniya mein 'murtaza' 'sahil'
ilm walon ki qadr-o-qimat hai

ilm kya shai hai dosto jaano
ilm ki ahmiyyat ko pahchano