Ghazal

"bujhaa saa rahtaa hai dil jab se hain vatan se judaa vo sehn-e-baagh nahin sair-e-maahtaab nahin base hue hain nigaahon mein vo hasin kuche har ek zarra jahaan kam ze-aaftaab nahin vo baagh-o-raagh ke dil-chasp-o-dil-nashin manzar ki jin ke hote hue khuld misl-e-khvaab nahin vo juebaar-e-ravaan kaa tarab-fazaa paani sharaab se nahin kuchh kam agar sharaab nahin ba-rang-e-zulf pareshaan vo mauj-haa-e-ravaan ki jin ki yaad mein raaton ko fikr-e-khvaab nahin samaa rahe hain nazar mein vo mahv-shaan-e-haram haram mein jin ke sitaare bhi baaryaab nahin vatan kaa chheD diyaa kis ne tazkira 'akhtar' ki chashm-e-shauq ko phir aarzu-e-khvaab nahin"

"zamaan-e-hijr miTe daur-e-vasl-e-yaar aae ilaahi ab to khizaan jaae aur bahaar aae sitam-zarifi-e-fitrat ye kyaa muamma hai ki jis kali ko bhi sunghun main bu-e-yaar aae chaman ki har kali aamaada-e-tabassum hai bahaar ban ke miri jaan-e-nau-bahaar aae hain tishna-kaam ham un baadalon se puchhe koi kahaan bahaar ki pariyon ke takht utaar aae tire khayaal ki be-taabiyaan maaaz-allaah ki ek baar bhulaaein to laakh baar aae vo aaein yuun mire aaghosh-e-ishq mein 'akhtar' ki jaise aankhon mein ik khvaab-e-be-qaraar aae"

"samaa kar dil mein nazron se nihaan hai mujhe yaad aane vaale tu kahaan hai khudaai kahkashaan kahti hai jis ko vo azraa kaa khiraam-e-raaegaan hai andhere baadalon se puchh zaahid miri khoi hui tauba kahaan hai ye kis ne pyaar ki nazron se dekhaa ki mere dil ki duniyaa phir javaan hai javaani raaegaan jaae to achchhaa javaani ek khvaab-e-raaegaan hai"

"miri aankhon se zaahir khun-fishaani ab bhi hoti hai nigaahon se bayaan dil ki kahaani ab bhi hoti hai surur-aaraa sharaab-e-arghavaani ab bhi hoti hai mire qadmon mein duniyaa ki javaani ab bhi hoti hai koi jhonkaa to laati ai nasim atraaf-e-kanaan tak savaad-e-misr mein ambar-fishaani ab bhi hoti hai vo shab ko mushk-bu pardon mein chhup kar aa hi jaate hain mire khvaabon par un ki mehrbaani ab bhi hoti hai kahin se haath aa jaae to ham ko bhi koi laa de sunaa hai is jahaan mein shaadmaani ab bhi hoti hai hilaal o badr ke naqshe sabaq dete hain insaan ko ki naakaami binaa-e-kaamraani ab bhi hoti hai kahin aghyaar ke khvaabon mein chhup chhup kar na jaate hon vo pahlu mein hain lekin bad-gumaani ab bhi hoti hai samajhtaa hai shikast-e-tauba ashk-e-tauba ko zaahid miri aankhon ki rangat arghavaani ab bhi hoti hai vo barsaatein vo baatein vo mulaaqaatein kahaan hamdam vatan ki raat hone ko suhaani ab bhi hoti hai khafaa hain phir bhi aa kar chheD jaate hain tasavvur mein hamaare haal par kuchh mehrbaani ab bhi hoti hai zabaan hi mein na ho taasir to main kyaa karun naaseh tiri baaton se paidaa sargiraani ab bhi hoti hai tumhaare gesuon ki chhaanv mein ik raat guzri thi sitaaron ki zabaan par ye kahaani ab bhi hoti hai pas-e-tauba bhi pi lete hain jaam-e-ghuncha-o-gul se bahaaron mein junun ki mehmaani ab bhi hoti hai koi khush ho miri maayusiyaan fariyaad karti hain ilaahi kyaa jahaan mein shaadmaani ab bhi hoti hai buton ko kar diyaa thaa jis ne majbur-e-sukhan 'akhtar' labon par vo navaa-e-aasmaani ab bhi hoti hai"

"ai dil vo aashiqi ke fasaane kidhar gae vo umr kyaa hui vo zamaane kidhar gae viraan hain sahn o baagh bahaaron ko kyaa huaa vo bulbulein kahaan vo taraane kidhar gae hai najd mein sukut havaaon ko kyaa huaa lailaaein hain khamosh divaane kidhar gae ujDe paDe hain dasht ghazaalon pe kyaa bani suune hain kohsaar divaane kidhar gae vo hijr mein visaal ki ummid kyaa hui vo ranj mein khushi ke bahaane kidhar gae din raat mai-kade mein guzarti thi zindagi 'akhtar' vo be-khudi ke zamaane kidhar gae"

"tamannaaon ko zinda aarzuon ko javaan kar luun ye sharmili nazar kah de to kuchh gustaakhiyaan kar luun bahaar aai hai bulbul dard-e-dil kahti hai phulon se kaho to main bhi apnaa dard-e-dil tum se bayaan kar luun hazaaron shokh armaan le rahe hain chuTkiyaan dil mein hayaa un ki ijaazat de to kuchh bebaakiyaan kar luun koi surat to ho duniyaa-e-faani mein bahalne ki Thahar jaa ai javaani maatam-e-umr-e-ravaan kar luun chaman mein hain baham parvaana o shama o gul o bulbul ijaazat ho to main bhi haal-e-dil apnaa bayaan kar luun kise maalum kab kis vaqt kis par gir paDe bijli abhi se main chaman mein chal kar aabaad aashiyaan kar luun bar aaein hasratein kyaa kyaa agar maut itni fursat de ki ik baar aur zinda sheva-e-ishq-e-javaan kar luun mujhe donon jahaan mein ek vo mil jaaein gar 'akhtar' to apni hasraton ko be-niyaaz-e-do-jahaan kar luun"

"kuchh to tanhaai ki raaton mein sahaaraa hotaa tum na hote na sahi zikr tumhaaraa hotaa tark-e-duniyaa kaa ye daavaa hai fuzul ai zaahid baar-e-hasti to zaraa sar se utaaraa hotaa vo agar aa na sake maut hi aai hoti hijr mein koi to gham-khvaar hamaaraa hotaa zindagi kitni masarrat se guzarti yaa rab aish ki tarah agar gham bhi gavaaraa hotaa azmat-e-girya ko kotaah-nazar kyaa samjhein ashk agar ashk na hotaa to sitaaraa hotaa lab-e-zaahid pe hai afsaana-e-hur-e-jannat kaash is vaqt miraa anjuman-aaraa hotaa gham-e-ulfat jo na miltaa gham-e-hasti miltaa kisi surat to zamaane mein guzaaraa hotaa kis ko fursat thi zamaane ke sitam sahne ki gar na us shokh ki aankhon kaa ishaaraa hotaa koi hamdard zamaane mein na paayaa 'akhtar' dil ko hasrat hi rahi koi hamaaraa hotaa"

"miri shaam-e-gham ko vo bahlaa rahe hain likhaa hai ye khat mein ki ham aa rahe hain Thahar jaa zaraa aur ai dard-e-furqat hamaare tasavvur mein vo aa rahe hain gham-e-aaqibat hai na fikr-e-zamaana piye jaa rahe hain jiye jaa rahe hain nahin shikva-e-tishnagi mai-kashon ko vo aankhon se mai-khaane barsaa rahe hain vo rashk-e-bahaar aane vaalaa hai 'akhtar' kanval hasraton ke khile jaa rahe hain"

"yaad aao mujhe lillaah na tum yaad karo apni aur meri javaani ko na barbaad karo sharm rone bhi na de bekali sone bhi na de is tarah to miri raaton ko na barbaad karo had hai piine ki ki khud pir-e-mughaan kahtaa hai is buri tarah javaani ko na barbaad karo yaad aate ho bahut dil se bhulaane vaalo tum hamein yaad karo tum hamein kyuun yaad karo aasmaan rutba mahal apne banaane vaalo dil kaa ujDaa huaa ghar bhi koi aabaad karo ham kabhi aaein tire ghar magar aaeinge zarur tum ne ye vaada kiyaa thaa ki nahin yaad karo chaandni raat mein gul-gasht ko jab jaate the aah azraa kabhi us vaqt ko bhi yaad karo main bhi shaaista-e-altaaf-e-sitam huun shaayad mere hote hue kyuun ghair pe bedaad karo sadqe us shokh ke 'akhtar' ye likhaa hai jis ne ishq mein apni javaani ko na barbaad karo"

"gham-khaana-e-hasti mein hai mehmaan koi din aur kar le hamein taqdir pareshaan koi din aur mar jaaeinge jab ham to bahut yaad karegi ji bhar ke sataa le shab-e-hijraan koi din aur turbat vo jagah hai ki jahaan gham hai na hairat hairat-kada-e-gham mein hain hairaan koi din aur yaaron se gila hai na azizon se shikaayat taqdir mein hai hasrat-o-hirmaan koi din aur paamaal-e-khizaan hone ko hain mast bahaarein hai sair-e-gul-o-husn-e-gulistaan koi din aur ham saa na milegaa koi gham-dost jahaan mein taDpaa le gham-e-gardish-e-dauraan koi din aur qabron ki jo raatein hain vo qabron mein kaTeingi aabaad hain ye zinda shabistaan koi din aur rangini-o-nuzhat pe na maghrur ho bulbul hai rang bahaar-e-chamanistaan koi din aur aakhir ko vahi ham vahi zulmaat-e-shab-e-gham hai nur-e-rukh-e-maah-e-darakhshaan koi din aur aazaad hon aalam se to aazaad huun gham se duniyaa hai hamaare liye zindaan koi din aur hasti kabhi qudrat kaa ik ehsaan thi ham par ab ham pe hai qudrat kaa ye ehsaan koi din aur laanat thi gunaahon ki nadaamat mire haq mein hai shukr ki us se hain pashemaan koi din aur shevan ko koi khuld-e-barin mein ye khabar de duniyaa mein ab 'akhtar' bhi hai mehmaan koi din aur"

"na chheD zaahid-e-naadaan sharaab piine de sharaab piine de khaana-kharaab piine de abhi se apni nasihat kaa zahr de na mujhe abhi to piine de aur be-hisaab piine de main jaantaa huun chhalaktaa huaa gunaah hai ye tu is gunaah ko be-ehtisaab piine de phir aisaa vaqt kahaan ham kahaan sharaab kahaan tilism-e-dahr hai naqsh-e-bar-aab piine de mire dimaagh ki duniyaa kaa aaftaab hai ye milaa ke barf mein ye aaftaab piine de kisi hasina ke boson ke qaabil ab na rahe to in labon se hamesha sharaab piine de samajh ke us ko ghafur-ur-rahim piitaa huun na chheD zikr-e-azaab-o-savaab piine de jo ruuh ho chuki ik baar daagh-daar miri to aur hone de lekin sharaab piine de sharaab-khaane mein ye shor kyuun machaayaa hai khamosh 'akhtar'-e-khaana-kharaab piine de"

"dil mein khayaal-e-nargis-e-jaanaana aa gayaa phulon se kheltaa huaa divaana aa gayaa baadal ke uThte hi mai o paimaana aa gayaa bijli ke saath saath pari-khaana aa gayaa maston ne is adaa se kiyaa raqs-e-nau-bahaar paimaana kyaa ki vajd mein mai-khaana aa gayaa us chashm-e-mai-farosh ki taasir kyaa kahun honTon tak aaj aap hi paimaana aa gayaa maalum kis ko qais ki divaangi ki shaan hangaama saa bapaa hai ki divaana aa gayaa 'akhtar' ghazab thi ahd-e-javaani ki daastaan aankhon ke aage ek pari-khaana aa gayaa"

"kis ki aankhon kaa liye dil pe asar jaate hain mai-kade haath baDhaate hain jidhar jaate hain dil mein armaan-e-visaal aankh mein tufaan-e-jamaal hosh baaqi nahin jaane kaa magar jaate hain bhulti hi nahin dil ko tiri mastaana nigaah saath jaataa hai ye mai-khaana jidhar jaate hain paasbaanaan-e-hayaa kyaa hue ai daulat-e-husn ham churaa kar tiri duz-dida nazar jaate hain pursish-e-dil to kujaa ye bhi na puchhaa us ne ham musaafir kidhar aae the kidhar jaate hain chashm-e-hairaan mein samaae hain ye kis ke jalve tuur har gaam pe raqsaan hain jidhar jaate hain jis tarah bhule musaafir koi saamaan apnaa ham yahaan bhuul ke dil aur nazar jaate hain kitne bedard hain is shahr ke rahne vaale raah mein chhin ke dil kahte hain ghar jaate hain agle vaqton mein luTaa karte the rah-rau aksar ham to is ahd mein bhi luT ke magar jaate hain faizabad se pahunchaa hamein ye faiz 'akhtar' ki jigar par liye ham daagh-e-jigar jaate hain"

"aashnaa ho kar taghaaful aashnaa kyuun ho gae baa-vafaa the tum to aakhir bevafaa kyuun ho gae aur bhi rahte abhi kuchh din nazar ke saamne dekhte hi dekhte ham se khafaa kyuun ho gae in vafaadaari ke vaadon ko ilaahi kyaa huaa vo vafaaein karne vaale bevafaa kyuun ho gae kis tarah dil se bhulaa baiThe hamaari yaad ko is tarah pardes jaa kar bevafaa kyuun ho gae tum to kahte the ki ham tujh ko na bhuleinge kabhi bhuul kar ham ko taghaaful aashnaa kyuun ho gae ham tumhaaraa dard-e-dil sun sun ke hanste the kabhi aaj rote hain ki yuun dard-aashnaa kyuun ho gae chaand ke TukDe bhi nazron mein samaa sakte nahin kyaa bataaein ham tire dar ke gadaa kyuun ho gae ye javaani ye ghaTaaein ye havaaein ye bahaar hazrat-e-'akhtar' abhi se paarsaa kyuun ho gae"

"vo kabhi mil jaaein to kyaa kijiye raat din surat ko dekhaa kijiye chaandni raaton mein ik ik phuul ko be-khudi kahti hai sajda kijiye jo tamannaa bar na aae umr bhar umr bhar us ki tamannaa kijiye ishq ki ranginiyon mein Duub kar chaandni raaton mein royaa kijiye puchh baiThe hain hamaaraa haal vo be-khudi tu hi bataa kyaa kijiye ham hi us ke ishq ke qaabil na the kyuun kisi zaalim kaa shikva kijiye aap hi ne dard-e-dil bakhshaa hamein aap hi is kaa mudaavaa kijiye kahte hain 'akhtar' vo sun kar mere sher is tarah ham ko na rusvaa kijiye"

"bajaa ki hai paas-e-hashr ham ko kareinge paas-e-shabaab pahle hisaab hotaa rahegaa yaarab hamein mangaa de sharaab pahle fazaa-e-shab hans ke jagmagaai vo naaznin subh ban ke aai huaa hai raushan mire shabistaan mein chaand se aaftaab pahle zabaan pe aayaa na harf-e-matlab ki kah gaiin kuchh sharir nazrein savaal karne na paae hain ham ki mil gayaa hai javaab pahle jinaan mein pahle-pahal piyegaa to laDkhaDaataa phiregaa zaahid surur-e-kausar ki hai agar dhan jahaan mein pi le sharaab pahle hai khusrav-e-ishq kaa ye farmaan ki dil lagaanaa nahin hai aasaan jise ho ku-e-butaan kaa armaan vo ku-ba-ku ho kharaab pahle gham-o-alam ranj-o-yaas-o-hasrat uThaaungaa sab ke rukh se parde tumhein qasam hai dil-e-hazin ki uThaao to tum naqaab pahle ilaahi vo bu-e-pairahan se bhi pahle ho ham-kanaar aa kar chaman mein hotaa hai jalva-afroz phuul se maahtaab pahle ye kis ke rang-e-rukh-e-bahaarin ne bakhsh di hai taraavat-e-nau shagufta hotaa na thaa gulistaan mein us adaa se gulaab pahle nigaah-e-saaqi ki muskuraai kahaa jab 'akhtar' ne apni dhan mein piyeinge piite raheinge mai-kash magar ye khaana-kharaab pahle"

"agar vo apne hasin chehre ko bhuul kar be-naqaab kar de to zarre ko maahtaab aur maahtaab ko aaftaab kar de tiri mohabbat ki vaadiyon mein miri javaani se duur kyaa hai jo saada paani ko ik nashili nazar mein rangin sharaab kar de harim-e-ishrat mein sone vaale shamim-e-gesu ki mastiyon se miri javaani ki saada raaton ko ab to sarshaar khvaab kar de maze vo paae hain aarzu mein ki dil ki ye aarzu hai yaarab tamaam duniyaa ki aarzuein mire liye intikhaab kar de nazar naa aane pe hai ye haalat ki jang hai shaiK-o-barhaman mein khabar nahin kyaa se kyaa ho duniyaa jo khud ko vo be-naqaab kar de mire gunaahon ki shorishein is liye ziyaada rahi hain yaarab ki in ki gustaakhiyon se tu apne afv ko be-hisaab kar de khudaa na laae vo din ki teri sunahri nindon mein farq aae mujhe to yuun apne hijr mein 'umr bhar ko bezaar-e-khvaab kar de main jaan-o-dil se tasavvur-e-husn-e-dost ki mastiyon ke qurbaan jo ik nazar mein kisi ke be-kaif aansuon ko sharaab kar de urus-e-fitrat kaa ek khoyaa huaa tabassum hai jis ko 'akhtar' kahin vo chaahe sharaab kar de kahin vo chaahe shabaab kar de"

"aao be-parda tumhein jalva-e-pinhaan ki qasam ham na chheDeinge hamein zulf-e-pareshaan ki qasam chaak-e-daamaan ki qasam chaak-e-garebaan ki qasam hansne vaale tujhe is haal-e-pareshaan ki qasam mere armaan se vaaqif nahin sharmaaeinge aap aap kyuun khaate hain naahaq mire armaan ki qasam niind aae na kabhi tujh se bichhaD kar zaalim apni aankhon ki qasam tere shabistaan ki qasam lab-e-jaanaan pe fidaa aariz-e-jaanaan ke nisaar shaam-e-rangin ki qasam subh-e-darakhshaan ki qasam aaj tak subh-e-vatan yaad hai ham ko 'akhtar' dard-e-hijraan ki qasam shaam-e-gharibaan ki qasam"

"ashk-baari na miTi sina-figaari na gai laala-kaari kisi surat bhi hamaari na gai kucha-e-husn chhuTaa to hue rusvaa-e-sharaab apni qismat mein jo likkhi thi vo khvaari na gai un ki mastaana nigaahon kaa nahin koi qusur naaseho zindagi khud ham se sanvaari na gai chashm-e-mahzun pe na lahraai vo zulf-e-shaadaab ye pari ham se bhi shishe mein utaari na gai muddatein ho gaiin bichhDe hue tum se lekin aaj tak dil se mire yaad tumhaari na gai shaad o khandaan rahe ham yuun to jahaan mein lekin apni fitrat se kabhi dard-shiaari na gai saikDon baar mire saamne ki tauba magar tauba 'akhtar' ki tiri baada-gusaari na gai"

"hazin hai bekas-o-ranjur hai dil mohabbat par magar majbur hai dil tumhaare nuur se maamur hai dil ajab kyaa hai ki rashk-e-tur hai dil tumhaare ishq se masrur hai dil abhi tak mast hai makhmur hai dil kiyaa hai yaad us yaad-e-jahaan ne ilaahi kis qadar masrur hai dil bahut chaahaa na jaaein tere dar par magar kyaa kijiye majbur hai dil faqiri mein use haasil hai shaahi tumhaare ishq par maghrur hai dil tire jalve kaa hai jis din se maskan javaab-e-jalva-gaah-e-tur hai dil do-aalam ko bhulaa dein kyuun na 'akhtar' ki us ki yaad se maamur hai dil"

"vaada us maah-ru ke aane kaa ye nasiba siyaah-khaane kaa kah rahi hai nigaah-e-duz-dida rukh badalne ko hai zamaane kaa zarre zarre mein be-hijaab hain vo jin ko daavaa hai munh chhupaane kaa haasil-e-umr hai shabaab magar ik yahi vaqt hai ganvaane kaa chaandni khaamushi aur aakhir shab aa ki hai vaqt dil lagaane kaa hai qayaamat tire shabaab kaa rang rang badlegaa phir zamaane kaa teri aankhon ki ho na ho taqsir naam rusvaa sharaab-khaane kaa rah gae ban ke ham saraapaa gham ye natija hai dil lagaane kaa jis kaa har lafz hai saraapaa gham main huun unvaan us fasaane kaa us ki badli hui nazar tauba yuun badaltaa hai rukh zamaane kaa dekhte hain hamein vo chhup chhup kar parda rah jaae munh chhupaane kaa kar diyaa khugar-e-sitam 'akhtar' ham pe ehsaan hai zamaane kaa"

"khayaalistaan-e-hasti mein agar gham hai khushi bhi hai kabhi aankhon mein aansu hain kabhi lab par hansi bhi hai inhi gham ki ghaTaaon se khushi kaa chaand niklegaa andheri raat ke parde mein din ki raushni bhi hai yunhi takmil hogi hashr tak tasvir-e-hasti ki har ik takmil aakhir mein payaam-e-nesti bhi hai ye vo saaghar hai sahbaa-e-khudi se pur nahin hotaa hamaare jaam-e-hasti mein sarishk-e-be-khudi bhi hai"

"jhuum kar badli uThi aur chhaa gai saari duniyaa par javaani aa gai aah vo us ki nigaah-e-mai-farosh jab bhi uTThi mastiyaan barsaa gai gesu-e-mushkin mein vo ru-e-hasin abr mein bijli si ik lahraa gai aalam-e-masti ki tauba al-amaan paarsaai nashsha ban kar chhaa gai aah us ki be-niyaazi ki nazar aarzu kyaa phuul si kumhlaa gai saaz-e-dil ko gudgudaayaa ishq ne maut ko le kar javaani aa gai paarsaai ki javaan-margi na puchh tauba karni thi ki badli chhaa gai 'akhtar' us jaan-e-tamannaa ki adaa jab kabhi yaad aa gai taDpaa gai"

"hamaare haath mein kab saaghar-e-sharaab nahin hamaare qadmon pe kis roz maahtaab nahin jahaan mein ab koi surat pae-savaab nahin vo mai-kade nahin saaqi nahin sharaab nahin shab-e-bahaar mein zulfon se khelne vaale tire baghair mujhe aarzu-e-khvaab nahin chaman mein bulbulein aur anjuman mein parvaane jahaan mein kaun gham-e-ishq se kharaab nahin gham, aah ishq ke gham kaa koi nahin mausam bahaar ho ki khizaan kab ye iztiraab nahin umid-e-pursish-e-ahvaal ho to kyunkar ho salaam kaa bhi tiri bazm mein javaab nahin vatan kaa chheD diyaa kis ne tazkira 'akhtar' ki chashm-e-shauq ko phir aarzu-e-khvaab nahin"