jab bhi is mulk pe aafat ki ghadi aai hai
aazmaish koi jis waqt kadi aai hai

jab hamein an-ginat aafat se dar lagta ho
aur bigde hue haalat se dar lagta ho

gham-o-alam ki pur-haul ghata chha jae
sar pe mandlate hon khatraat ke gahre sae

jab ghata-top andhere mein qadam chal na saken
aur jab jada-e-pur-khar pe hum chal na saken

dur tak jab kahin manzil ka pata bhi na mile
ham-safar bhi na mile rah-numa bhi na mile

kuchh andhere mein sujhai na kahin deta ho
hath par hath dikhai na kahin deta ho

qafila qaum ka jis waqt bhatak jata ho
aur pur-haul andheron mein atak jata ho

qafile walon ke qadmon ki sada bhi gum ho
ek sannata ho aur bang-e-dara bhi gum ho

aadamiyat se agar apna yaqin uth jae
aur nairangi-e-haalat pe dil tharrae

gung jazbaat ko jis waqt zaban bhi na mile
nala-e-dil ko koi tarz-e-fughan bhi na mile

ruh mein karb ho betabi-o-be-zari ho
aur mahaul pe dahshat si ajab tari ho

zahr-e-gham qaum ki rag rag mein asar kar jae
be-hisi zehn mein har shakhs ke ghar kar jae

al-gharaz zindagi-e-qaum mein aa jae jumud
aur pad jae jab is mulk ka khatre mein wajud

ain us waqt koi rah-numa aata hai
aa ke bigde hue haalat bana jata hai