ek mushkil si bahar-taur bani hoti hai

ek mushkil sī bahar-taur banī hotī hai

tujh se baaz aa.eñ to phir ḳhud se Thanī hotī hai

kuchh to le baiThtī hai apnī shikasta-pā.ī

aur kuchh raah meñ chhāñv bhī ghanī hotī hai

mere siine se zarā kaan lagā kar dekho

saañs chaltī hai ki zanjīr-zanī hotī hai

ābla-pā.ī bhī hotī hai muqaddar apnā

sar pe aflāk kī chādar bhī tanī hotī hai

duudh kī nahr nikālī hai ġhamoñ se ham ne

ham batā sakte haiñ kyā koh-kanī hotī hai

aañkh to khultī hai kirnoñ kī talab meñ lekin

zeb-e-mizhgāñ kisī neze kī anī hotī hai

dasht-e-ġhurbat hī pe mauqūf nahīñ hai 'tābish'

ab to ghar meñ bhī ġharīb-ul-vatanī hotī hai

ek mushkil si bahar-taur bani hoti hai

tujh se baz aaen to phir KHud se Thani hoti hai

kuchh to le baiThti hai apni shikasta-pai

aur kuchh rah mein chhanw bhi ghani hoti hai

mere sine se zara kan laga kar dekho

sans chalti hai ki zanjir-zani hoti hai

aabla-pai bhi hoti hai muqaddar apna

sar pe aflak ki chadar bhi tani hoti hai

dudh ki nahr nikali hai ghamon se hum ne

hum bata sakte hain kya koh-kani hoti hai

aankh to khulti hai kirnon ki talab mein lekin

zeb-e-mizhgan kisi neze ki ani hoti hai

dasht-e-ghurbat hi pe mauquf nahin hai 'tabish'

ab to ghar mein bhi gharib-ul-watani hoti hai