Ek Shagufta Gulab Jaisa Tha

ek shagufta gulab jaisa tha

wo bahaaron ke KHwab jaisa tha

paDh liya hum ne harf harf use

us ka chehra kitab kaisa tha

dur se kuchh tha aur qarib se kuchh

har sahaara sarab jaisa tha

hum gharibon ke waste har roz

ek roz-e-hisab jaisa tha

kis qadar jald uD gaya yaro

waqt rang-e-shabab jaisa tha

kaise guzri hai umr kya kahiye

lamha lamha azab jaisa tha

zahr tha zindagi ke saghar mein

rang rang-e-sharab jaisa tha

kya zamana tha wo zamana bhi

har gunah jab sawab jaisa tha

kaun gardanta use qatil

wo to izzat-maab jaisa tha

be-hijabi ke bawajud bhi kuchh

is ke ruKH par hijab jaisa tha

jab bhi chheDa to ek fughan nikli

dil shikasta rabab jaisa tha

is ke ruKH par nazar Thahar na saki

wo 'hafiz' aaftab jaisa tha