ye ajab saat-e-ruKHsat hai ki Dar lagta hai

ye ajab sā.at-e-ruḳhsat hai ki Dar lagtā hai

shahr kā shahr mujhe raḳht-e-safar lagtā hai

raat ko ghar se nikalte hue Dar lagtā hai

chāñd dīvār pe rakkhā huā sar lagtā hai

ham ko dil ne nahīñ hālāt ne nazdīk kiyā

dhuup meñ duur se har shaḳhs shajar lagtā hai

jis pe chalte hue sochā thā ki lauT ā.ūñgā

ab vo rasta bhī mujhe shahr-badar lagtā hai

mujh se to dil bhī mohabbat meñ nahīñ ḳharch huā

tum to kahte the ki is kaam meñ ghar lagtā hai

vaqt lafzoñ se banā.ī huī chādar jaisā

oḌh letā huuñ to sab ḳhvāb hunar lagtā hai

is zamāne meñ to itnā bhī ġhanīmat hai miyāñ

koī bāhar se bhī darvesh agar lagtā hai

apne shajre ki vo tasdīq karā.e jā kar

jis ko zanjīr pahante hue Dar lagtā hai

ek muddat se mirī maañ nahīñ soī 'tābish'

maiñ ne ik baar kahā thā mujhe Dar lagtā hai

ye ajab saat-e-ruKHsat hai ki Dar lagta hai

shahr ka shahr mujhe raKHt-e-safar lagta hai

raat ko ghar se nikalte hue Dar lagta hai

chand diwar pe rakkha hua sar lagta hai

hum ko dil ne nahin haalat ne nazdik kiya

dhup mein dur se har shaKHs shajar lagta hai

jis pe chalte hue socha tha ki lauT aaunga

ab wo rasta bhi mujhe shahr-badar lagta hai

mujh se to dil bhi mohabbat mein nahin KHarch hua

tum to kahte the ki is kaam mein ghar lagta hai

waqt lafzon se banai hui chadar jaisa

oDh leta hun to sab KHwab hunar lagta hai

is zamane mein to itna bhi ghanimat hai miyan

koi bahar se bhi darwesh agar lagta hai

apne shajre ki wo tasdiq karae ja kar

jis ko zanjir pahante hue Dar lagta hai

ek muddat se meri man nahin soi 'tabish'

main ne ek bar kaha tha mujhe Dar lagta hai