apni tahzib hai aur apni zaban hai urdu
apne ghar mein magar afsos kahan hai urdu

ahl-e-ulfat ke liye husn-e-rawan hai urdu
ahl-e-dil ke liye dilkash hai jawan hai urdu

aaj bhi 'ghaalib' o 'iqbaal' padhe jate hain
aaj bhi kal ki tarah jadu-bayan hai urdu

aaj bhi 'prem' ke aur 'krishn' ke afsane hain
aaj bhi waqt ki jamhuri zaban hai urdu

aaj bhi mulk ki azmat ke hain naghme is mein
aaj bhi qaum ki hurmat ka bayan hai urdu

aaj bhi bazm ki raunaq hai 'ata' is ke sabab
mahfil-e-sher ki is waqt bhi jaan hai urdu