Is collection se writer-diverse top picks for quick reading.
nahin nigah mein manzil to justuju hi sahi
nahin nigah men manzil to justuju hi sahi
nahin visal mayassar to aarzu hi sahi
na tan men khuun faraham na ashk ankhon men
namaz-e-shauq to vajib hai be-vuzu hi sahi
kisi tarah to jame bazm mai-kade vaalo
nahin jo bada-o-saghhar to hav-hu hi sahi
gar intizar kathin hai to jab talak ai dil
kisi ke vada-e-farda ki guftugu hi sahi
dayar-e-ghhair men mahram agar nahin koi
to 'faiz' zikr-e-vatan apne ru-ba-ru hi sahi
nahin nigah mein manzil to justuju hi sahi
nahin visal mayassar to aarzu hi sahi
na tan mein khun faraham na ashk aankhon mein
namaz-e-shauq to wajib hai be-wuzu hi sahi
kisi tarah to jame bazm mai-kade walo
nahin jo baada-o-saghar to haw-hu hi sahi
gar intizar kathin hai to jab talak ai dil
kisi ke wada-e-farda ki guftugu hi sahi
dayar-e-ghair mein mahram agar nahin koi
to 'faiz' zikr-e-watan apne ru-ba-ru hi sahi
subh hote hi nikal aate hain bazar men log
gathriyan sar pe uthae hue imanon ki
bachchon ke saath aaj use dekha to dukh hua
un men se koi ek bhi maan par nahin gaya
ye dhuup to har rukh se pareshan karegi
kyuun dhund rahe ho kisi divar ka saaya
main ye kis ke nam likkhun jo alam guzar rahe hain
main ye kis ke naam likkhun jo alam guzar rahe hain
mire shahr jal rahe hain mire log mar rahe hain
koi ghhuncha ho ki gul ho koi shakh ho shajar ho
vo hava-e-gulsitan hai ki sabhi bikhar rahe hain
kabhi rahmaten thiin nazil isi khitta-e-zamin par
vahi khitta-e-zamin hai ki 'azab utar rahe hain
vahi taeron ke jhurmut jo hava men jhulte the
vo faza ko dekhte hain to ab aah bhar rahe hain
badi aarzu thi ham ko nae khvab dekhne ki
so ab apni zindagi men nae khvab bhar rahe hain
koi aur to nahin hai pas-e-khanjar-azmai
hamin qatl ho rahe hain hamin qatl kar rahe hain
main ye kis ke nam likkhun jo alam guzar rahe hain
mere shahr jal rahe hain mere log mar rahe hain
koi ghuncha ho ki gul ho koi shakh ho shajar ho
wo hawa-e-gulsitan hai ki sabhi bikhar rahe hain
kabhi rahmaten thin nazil isi khitta-e-zamin par
wahi khitta-e-zamin hai ki 'azab utar rahe hain
wahi taeron ke jhurmut jo hawa mein jhulte the
wo faza ko dekhte hain to ab aah bhar rahe hain
badi aarzu thi hum ko nae khwab dekhne ki
so ab apni zindagi mein nae khwab bhar rahe hain
koi aur to nahin hai pas-e-khanjar-azmai
hamin qatl ho rahe hain hamin qatl kar rahe hain
mire halat ko bas yuun samajh lo
parinde par shajar rakkha hua hai
agar badal na diya aadmi ne duniya ko
to jaan lo ki yahan aadmi ki khair nahin
the couplet is a stern warning: human welfare depends on human action. “changing the world” stands for reforming injustice, cruelty, and stagnant ways. if people remain passive, the same world will turn hostile to them, leaving no “khair” (peace, protection, good outcome). the emotional core is urgent responsibility tied to survival.
kaam ab koi na aaega bas ek dil ke siwa
kaam ab koi na aaega bas ik dil ke siva
raste band hain sab kucha-e-qatil ke siva
bais-e-rashk hai tanha-ravi-e-rah-rav-e-shauq
ham-safar koi nahin duri-e-manzil ke siva
ham ne duniya ki har ik shai se uthaya dil ko
lekin ek shokh ke hangama-e-mahfil ke siva
teghh munsif ho jahan dar-o-rasan hon shahid
be-gunah kaun hai us shahr men qatil ke siva
jaane kis rang se aai hai gulistan men bahar
koi naghhma hi nahin shor-e-salasil ke siva
kaam ab koi na aaega bas ek dil ke siwa
raste band hain sab kucha-e-qatil ke siwa
bais-e-rashk hai tanha-rawi-e-rah-raw-e-shauq
ham-safar koi nahin duri-e-manzil ke siwa
hum ne duniya ki har ek shai se uthaya dil ko
lekin ek shokh ke hangama-e-mahfil ke siwa
tegh munsif ho jahan dar-o-rasan hon shahid
be-gunah kaun hai us shahr mein qatil ke siwa
jaane kis rang se aai hai gulistan mein bahaar
koi naghma hi nahin shor-e-salasil ke siwa
meri sari zindagi ko be-samar usne kiya
meri saari zindagi ko be-samar us ne kiya
umr meri thi magar us ko basar us ne kiya
main bahut kamzor tha is mulk men hijrat ke baad
par mujhe is mulk men kamzor-tar us ne kiya
rahbar mera bana gumrah karne ke liye
mujh ko sidhe raste se dar-ba-dar us ne kiya
shahr men vo mo'atabar meri gavahi se hua
phir mujhe is shahr men na-mo'tabar us ne kiya
shahr ko barbad kar ke rakh diya us ne 'munir'
shahr par ye zulm mere naam par us ne kiya
meri sari zindagi ko be-samar us ne kiya
umr meri thi magar us ko basar us ne kiya
main bahut kamzor tha is mulk mein hijrat ke baad
par mujhe is mulk mein kamzor-tar us ne kiya
rahbar mera bana gumrah karne ke liye
mujh ko sidhe raste se dar-ba-dar us ne kiya
shahr mein wo mo'atabar meri gawahi se hua
phir mujhe is shahr mein na-mo'tabar us ne kiya
shahr ko barbaad kar ke rakh diya us ne 'munir'
shahr par ye zulm mere nam par us ne kiya
an-ginat khuni masail ki hava aisi chali
ranj-o-ghham ki gard men lipta har ik chehra mila
mujh se ziyada kaun tamasha dekh sakega
gandhi-ji ke tinon bandar mere andar
nazar jo koi bhi tujh sa hasin nahin aata
nazar jo koi bhi tujh sa hasin nahin aata
kisi ko kya mujhe khud bhi yaqin nahin aata
tira khayal bhi teri tarah sitamgar hai
jahan pe chahiye aana vahin nahin aata
jo hone vaala hai ab us ki fikr kya kiije
jo ho chuka hai usi par yaqin nahin aata
ye mera dil hai ki manzar ujaad basti ka
khule hue hain sabhi dar makin nahin aata
bichhadna hai to bichhad ja isi do-rahe par
ki mod aage safar men kahin nahin aata
nazar jo koi bhi tujh sa hasin nahin aata
kisi ko kya mujhe khud bhi yaqin nahin aata
tera khayal bhi teri tarah sitamgar hai
jahan pe chahiye aana wahin nahin aata
jo hone wala hai ab us ki fikr kya kije
jo ho chuka hai usi par yaqin nahin aata
ye mera dil hai ki manzar ujad basti ka
khule hue hain sabhi dar makin nahin aata
bichhadna hai to bichhad ja isi do-rahe par
ki mod aage safar mein kahin nahin aata
achchhe din kab aaenge
achchhe din kab aenge
kya yuun hi mar jaenge
apne-ap ko khvabon se
kab tak ham bahlaenge
bambai men thahrenge kahan
dilli men kya khaenge
khilte hain to khilne do
phuul abhi murjhaenge
kitni achchhi ladki hai
barson bhuul na paenge
maut na aai to 'alvi'
chhutti men ghar jaenge
achchhe din kab aaenge
kya yun hi mar jaenge
apne-ap ko khwabon se
kab tak hum bahlaenge
bambai mein thahrenge kahan
dilli mein kya khaenge
khilte hain to khilne do
phul abhi murjhaenge
kitni achchhi ladki hai
barson bhul na paenge
maut na aai to 'alwi'
chhutti mein ghar jaenge
pareshani agar hai to pareshani ka hal bhi hai
pareshan-hal rahne se pareshani nahin jaati
mansub charaghhon se taraf-dar hava ke
tum log munafiq ho munafiq bhi bala ke
kaise manun ki zamane ki khabar rakhti hai
gardish-e-vaqt to bas mujh pe nazar rakhti hai
ek naghma ek tara ek ghuncha ek jam
ek naghhma ek taara ek ghhuncha ek jaam
ai ghham-e-dauran ghham-e-dauran tujhe mera salam
zulf avara gareban chaak ghabrai nazar
in dinon ye hai jahan men zindagani ka nizam
chand taare tuut kar daman men mere aa gire
main ne puchha tha sitaron se tire ghham ka maqam
kah rahe hain chand bichhde rahravon ke naqsh-e-pa
ham karenge inqalab-e-justuju ka ehtimam
pad gaiin pairahan-e-subh-e-chaman par silvaten
yaad aa kar rah gai hai be-khudi ki ek shaam
teri ismat ho ki ho mere hunar ki chandni
vaqt ke bazar men har chiiz ke lagte hain daam
ham banaenge yahan 'saghhar' nai tasvir-e-shauq
ham takhayyul ke mujaddid ham tasavvur ke imaam
ek naghma ek tara ek ghuncha ek jam
ai gham-e-dauran gham-e-dauran tujhe mera salam
zulf aawara gareban chaak ghabrai nazar
in dinon ye hai jahan mein zindagani ka nizam
chand tare tut kar daman mein mere aa gire
main ne puchha tha sitaron se tere gham ka maqam
kah rahe hain chand bichhde rahrawon ke naqsh-e-pa
hum karenge inqalab-e-justuju ka ehtimam
pad gain pairahan-e-subh-e-chaman par silwaten
yaad aa kar rah gai hai be-khudi ki ek sham
teri ismat ho ki ho mere hunar ki chandni
waqt ke bazar mein har chiz ke lagte hain dam
hum banaenge yahan 'saghar' nai taswir-e-shauq
hum takhayyul ke mujaddid hum tasawwur ke imam
tumhen to thiik se barbad karna bhi nahin aata
chalo pichhe hato apni ye halat main banata huun
rang pairahan ka khushbu zulf lahrane ka nam
rang pairahan ka khushbu zulf lahrane ka naam
mausam-e-gul hai tumhare baam par aane ka naam
dosto us chashm o lab ki kuchh kaho jis ke baghhair
gulsitan ki baat rangin hai na mai-khane ka naam
phir nazar men phuul mahke dil men phir shamen jalin
phir tasavvur ne liya us bazm men jaane ka naam
dilbari thahra zaban-e-khalq khulvane ka naam
ab nahin lete pari-ru zulf bikhrane ka naam
ab kisi laila ko bhi iqrar-e-mahbubi nahin
in dinon badnam hai har ek divane ka naam
mohtasib ki khair uncha hai usi ke faiz se
rind ka saaqi ka mai ka khum ka paimane ka naam
ham se kahte hain chaman vaale ghhariban-e-chaman
tum koi achchha sa rakh lo apne virane ka naam
'faiz' un ko hai taqaza-e-vafa ham se jinhen
ashna ke naam se pyara hai begane ka naam
rang pairahan ka khushbu zulf lahrane ka nam
mausam-e-gul hai tumhaare baam par aane ka nam
dosto us chashm o lab ki kuchh kaho jis ke baghair
gulsitan ki baat rangin hai na mai-khane ka nam
phir nazar mein phul mahke dil mein phir shamen jalin
phir tasawwur ne liya us bazm mein jaane ka nam
dilbari thahra zaban-e-khalq khulwane ka nam
ab nahin lete pari-ru zulf bikhrane ka nam
ab kisi laila ko bhi iqrar-e-mahbubi nahin
in dinon badnam hai har ek diwane ka nam
mohtasib ki khair uncha hai usi ke faiz se
rind ka saqi ka mai ka khum ka paimane ka nam
hum se kahte hain chaman wale ghariban-e-chaman
tum koi achchha sa rakh lo apne virane ka nam
'faiz' un ko hai taqaza-e-wafa hum se jinhen
aashna ke nam se pyara hai begane ka nam
insan mein haiwan yahan bhi hai wahan bhi
insan men haivan yahan bhi hai vahan bhi
allah nigahban yahan bhi hai vahan bhi
khun-khvar darindon ke faqat naam alag hain
har shahr bayaban yahan bhi hai vahan bhi
hindu bhi sukun se hai musalman bhi sukun se
insan pareshan yahan bhi hai vahan bhi
rahman ki rahmat ho ki bhagvan ki murat
har khel ka maidan yahan bhi hai vahan bhi
uthta hai dil-o-jan se dhuan donon taraf hi
ye 'mir' ka divan yahan bhi hai vahan bhi
insan mein haiwan yahan bhi hai wahan bhi
allah nigahban yahan bhi hai wahan bhi
khun-khwar darindon ke faqat nam alag hain
har shahr bayaban yahan bhi hai wahan bhi
hindu bhi sukun se hai musalman bhi sukun se
insan pareshan yahan bhi hai wahan bhi
rahman ki rahmat ho ki bhagwan ki murat
har khel ka maidan yahan bhi hai wahan bhi
uthta hai dil-o-jaan se dhuan donon taraf hi
ye 'mir' ka diwan yahan bhi hai wahan bhi