ishq ka koi ḳhair-ḳhvah to hai
tu nahin hai tiri nigah to hai
arz-e-gham kyuun na un se kar dekhun
ab bhi thodi si rasm-o-rah to hai
zindagi ik siyah raat sahi
ashiqi ik charagh-e-rah to hai
roz-o-shab ki haqiqaten maalum
ik tamasha-e-mehr-o-mah to hai
tab-e-jalva mujhe nahin na sahi
lekin ik jurat-e-nigah to hai
aur iqbal-e-jurm kya ho ‘shakil’
thartharate labon pe aah to hai