shahsalim

[shahsalim]

Jis haal mein jeena hai, woh malaal kya hai

Sawaal jo karoon, phir woh zawaal kya hai

Khatm kissa hua, phir woh hissa kya hai

Jo subah bhi aayi, to phir shaam kya hai

Yeh din bhi guzar gaya, to kaam kya hai

Yeh chalti hui raah, yeh talaash ki raakh

Jo manzil na mile, phir woh maqam kya hai

Yeh chehre, yeh bheer, yeh shor ka rang

Aakhir koi na samjhe, to paighaam kya hai

Jo khwab bike hain bazaaron mein sab

Agar yeh bik hi jaayein, to inka daam kya hai

[shahsalim]

Jab se insaan ki zaat bani hai

Tab se ik kaash saath laga hai

Har qadam par khalish biki hai

Har nafas mein fasaad laga hai

Khwab palkon pe jalte rehte

Koi wada adhoora laga hai

Dard dil ka naseeb thehra

Gham ko dil se gehra laga hai

[shahsalim]

Sheher ki imaaraton ke peeche, aaj phir sooraj chhup gaya

Ek aur din bhi yahaan, khamoshi mein dhal gaya

Phir shuru hoga yeh chakkar, ek naye savere ke saath

Kya barf-e-hayaat do kiranon ke darmiyaan pighal gaya?

Aankh khulti hai, toh is daur mein uljhe rehte hain

Phir kyun aankh band hone tak bhi yeh safar na kat gaya?

Sheher ki imaaraton ke peeche, aaj phir sooraj chhup gaya

Ek aur din bhi yahaan, khamoshi mein dhal gaya

[shahsalim]

Kyun sahoon zarb pe zarb, tegh-e-naazuk banne ko

Kyun gudaaz-e-jaan ko doon aatish-e-andaroon mein pighalne ko

Kamil na sahi hoon magar, apni ek shana’at hai

Kyun rahoon just-o-juhd mein, soorat-e-digar badalne ko

Jo na tha taqdeer mein, na fehm mein aaya kabhi

Kyun barhoon is raah par, be-sabab thaharne ko

Jo hoon, wahi kaafi hai, gar sadaqat baaqi ho

Kya zarurat hai mujhe har qaalib mein dhalne ko

[shahsalim]

Band muthi mein bhar loon saari kainaat ka khwab

Jo kabhi socha na tha, woh bhi ban jaaye kitaab

Umeed ke dhaagon se baandh loon har lamha

Toot jaye to bhi, rahe dil mein uska jawab

Kash iss muqaddar ki lakeer mein likh saku kuch roshni

Warna khulti muthi mein reh jaaye sirf khala aur azab

[shahsalim]

Khushboo nahi aati murjhaaye phoolon se

Sooni hai sada ab khamosh honton se

Waqt ke giley mein chhupi jo guzri zindagi

Woh lamha nahi laut’ta beete palon se

[shahsalim]

Gham sambhal ke chhor diye is haal mein,

Hum tadpe sirf is liye, soch-e-visaal mein.

Khayalon mein bhi kuch na kaha usne,

Shayad chup tha woh bhi meri tarah, is ikhtiyaal mein.

Zakhm to bhar gaye the dard ke saaye se,

Phir kyun aankhein nam hui usi ek sawaal pe.

Waqt guzarta gaya, dil ruk sa gaya,

Kaise likhi jaaye firaaq, ek jaam-e-misraal mein?

Zehar bhi meetha laga uski yaadon ke saath,

Kya mila dil ko, bata, is jhoot-e-kamaal mein?

Bichhadna-e-muqaddar ko roshan kar diya,

Kya sab kuch likha na tha pehle se, kitaab-e-nihaal mein?

Is liye gham sambhal ke chhor diye is haal mein,

Bas jeeye ja rahe hain ab, soch-e-misaal mein.

[shahsalim]

Waqt nahi maangta main,

Ke inteha ki baa’hon mein hayyar para hoon.

Ghari ki kaantay ruk se gaye hain,

Un ke darmiyaan, main sayyar khara hoon.

Jo lamha guzar chuka, aur jo aane wala hai,

Un ke darmiyan, main tayyar raha hoon.

[shahsalim]

Ab main jaise hi ek boond girti hai,

To paani ka tawazun bikhar jaata hai.

Jahalat ki daraaron mein agar zahanat gir jaye,

To insaan ki buniyad tak hil jaati hai.

Baat-e-bayaan ki chahat to rakhte ho,

Magar alfaaz ka silsila ho chuka hai saqat.

Yeh soch jo tumhare zehan mein chup si pal rahi hai,

Wahi tumhari kismat ka sirf ek andaaz hai — faqat.

[shahsalim]

Shaab-e-afsurdagi yaad hai,

Dil ka aakhri khanum yaad hai.

Visaal ki tamanna bhool gaye ae dost,

Lekin khalwat ki woh khushboo yaad hai.

Sargoshiyon mein raat kati thi kabhi,

Ab sirf wohi sargoshi yaad hai.

Chahat ki koi tasreeh nahi baaqi,

Bas tanhai ka marham yaad hai.

Na shikwa raha, na koi dastaan,

Sirf ek khali bharam yaad hai.

Kabhi khud se mulaqat hoti thi,

Ab khwabon ke bus zakhm yaad hai.

Na tha koi, magar sab tha paas,

Ab bheed mein bhi tanhai yaad hai.

Woh lamha-e-khamosh jab kuch na kaha,

Us lamhe ka har aalam yaad hai.

[shahsalim]

Kat jaye yeh rooh ka safar kal raat tak

Mil jaye ek naya mauqa us hayaat tak

Badloonga to kuch nahi is bad-kirdaari mein

Bas naam faash kar doon us naqab tak

Baatin ne jhuk ke dekha tha aaina kabhi

Tab jaam toota, chehra tha khwab tak

[shahsalim]

Milenge phir kabhi, koi baat nahin

Poochenge unka naam-e-taskeen, koi baat nahin

Tha nahi aitbaar-e-yaqeen alam par filhaal

Bichhad gaye to sahi, koi baat nahin

Nasheen ne har dard ko khamoshi se likha

Jisne parh liya to theek

Aur jispe guzri—koi baat nahin

[shahsalim]

Dikhte nahin ab woh khwab kahaan

Sach hoon, un mein woh baat kahaan

Neend se hosh tak safar to hua

Magar haqeeqat ki woh buniyad kahaan

Gosha ko na tha khud pe bhi aitbaar kabhi

Woh jo khud se mila, uski pehchaan kahaan

[shahsalim]

Zakhm de kar jo muskurane wale

Zeher ko bhi shifa banane wale

Apni khaamiyon ko maante nahi

Phir hum kaise hue rulane wale

Naam na leke jo zubaan par hain

Kya kahen aise dil lagane wale?

Wafa ko yaad rakhte hain dil se sab

Phir bhi hain tanha nibhaane wale

[shahsalim]

Jahan ke aaghaz mein hi fahm madhosh hai

Zara dekh, kis qadar yeh haal faramosh hai

Hai waazeh, tamashayi nahi main is kashti ka

Phir kyun har lehar yahan dafan-e-josh hai?

[shahsalim]

Duniya e ghol dar aghosh e husn ast

Ke jaal phek chuka hai jahan be rajast

Ghaib ul maut mai hai maza ae dost

Fikr is jahan ki mujhe nahi karni, main hoon mast

[shahsalim]

Dhoop ki kirnon ke peeche chalte rahe

Shayad milein hum kisi lab-e-shafaq pe

Aftaab-o-maah ka ek hi baar hai

Duniya ka tawazun hi dushwaar hai