jalwa-e-husn-e-azal aae tasawwur mein agar
gosha-e-dil mein machalte hue arman honge

ek hasin gor-e-ghariban pe hua yun goya
ye bhi kambakht kabhi hazrat-e-insan honge

panw rakhte bhi nazakat se agar honge kahin
be-badal husn-e-jahan-soz pe nazan honge

phul bistar pe bichhane ko agar hasil the
sair ke waste bagh aur gulistan honge

itr malne ke liye kapde badalne ke liye
mahl-o-aiwan mein bahut dast-e-hasinan honge

nit-nai roz mayassar thi unhen bazm-e-surud
dil bahalne ke liye sainkadon saman honge

ek lamha bhi guzarta tha jo tanhai mein
muztarib aur pareshan ye zishan honge

gor-o-marqad pe yunhi sair ko aate honge
aur sinon mein liye hasrat-o-arman honge

kya khabar thi ki ujad jaega gulzar-e-hayat
ek jhonke se hawa ke na ye saman honge

kya yunhi maut mitaegi jahan se hum ko
kya yunhi apne liye dasht-o-bayaban honge

zindagi mein na karenge jo bashar kar-e-sawab
waqt-e-rukhsat wo pareshan-o-pasheman honge

'aftab' un ki samajhta hun hayat-e-abadi
jo bashar dharm pe sau-jaan se qurban honge