Ghazal

"rahbar-e-tabl-o-nishaan aur zaraa tez qadam haan mire azm-e-javaan aur zaraa tez qadam is andhere se na ghabraa ki zaraa aur aage hai charaaghaan kaa samaan aur zaraa tez qadam kahin maayus na honaa jo nigaahon se abhi un ki mahfil hai nihaan aur zaraa tez qadam ye yaqin hai ki pahunch jaaeinge un tak ik din chaliye be-vahm-o-gumaan aur zaraa tez qadam bujh na jaaein rah-e-hasti mein tamannaa ke charaagh khvaaja-e-raah-ravaan aur zaraa tez qadam kis bulandi pe ravaan tum ho zamin ke zarro hain sitaare nigaraan aur zaraa tez qadam mil hi jaaegaa kahin shahr-e-nigaaraan 'akhtar' ai parastaar-e-butaan aur zaraa tez qadam"

"ye rang-o-kaif kahaan thaa shabaab se pahle nazar kuchh aur thi mauj-e-sharaab se pahle na jaane haal ho kyaa daur-e-iztiraab ke baad sukun milaa na kabhi iztiraab se pahle vahi gharib hain khaana-kharaab se ab bhi ravaan-davaan the jo khaana-kharaab se pahle vahi hai hashr kaa aalam ab inqalaab ke baad jo hashr uThaa thaa yahaan inqalaab se pahle mili hai tujh se to mahsus ho rahi hai nazar nazar kahaan thi tire intikhaab se pahle tabaah haal zamaane ko dekhiye 'akhtar' nazar uThaaiye jaam-e-sharaab se pahle"

"jaam laa jaam ki aalaam se ji Dartaa hai asar-e-gardish-e-ayyaam se ji Dartaa hai lab pe ab aariz-o-gesu ke fasaane kyaa hon fitnahaa-e-sahar-o-shaam se ji Dartaa hai tujh ko main DhunDhtaa phirtaa huun dar-o-baam se duur ab tajalli-e-dar-o-baam se ji Dartaa hai gul khilaae na kahin fitna-e-dauraan kuchh aur aaj-kal daur-e-mai-o-jaam se ji Dartaa hai nigah-e-mast ke qurbaan miri samt na dekh mauja-e-baada-e-gulfaam se ji Dartaa hai chhoD kar raah mein but-khaane guzar jaataa huun hosh mein jalva-e-asnaam se ji Dartaa hai raat ki zulmatein baDhti hi chali jaati hain 'akhtar' apnaa to sar-e-shaam se ji Dartaa hai"

"is taraf haadson ko aane do himmat-e-dil ko aazmaane do ahl-e-saahil ko muskuraane do kashtiyon ko bhanvar mein aane do jo bahaaron ko zindagi deinge un shagufon ko muskuraane do ham sikhaaeinge un ko raahbari rahzanon ko qarib aane do un ki nazron ke rukh bhi dekhungaa mire dil ko sukun paane do maut sharmaaegi lajaaegi zindagaani ko gham uThaane do gulshanon mein bahaar se pahle kuchh khizaan ko bhi gul khilaane do raushni tirgi se behtar hai in charaaghon ko jhilmilaane do tum bhi kuchh gungunaao ai 'akhtar' kuchh fazaaon ko gungunaane do"

"shaairo hadd-e-qadaamat se nikal kar dekho daastaanon ke ab unvaan badal kar dekho kyuun ho taqlid-e-kalim aaj bhi ai dida-varo didani ho koi jalva to sambhal kar dekho sham-o-parvaana kaa andaaz nayaa hai ki nahin zikr thaa jis kaa ab us bazm mein chal kar dekho aur bhi rukh nazar aaeinge tajalli ke abhi rukh nigaahon ke zaraa aur badal kar dekho agle vaqton ke fasaane na sunaao yaaro nae maahaul ke saanche mein bhi Dhal kar dekho kal ke andaaz bhi dilkash the ye taslim magar aaj bhi shahr-e-nigaaraan mein nikal kar dekho apne ahbaab ki jaanib na uThaao nazrein dekhnaa hai agar 'akhtar' to sambhal kar dekho"

"nazar se safha-e-aalam pe khunin daastaan likhiye qalam se kyaa hikaayaat-e-zamin-o-aasmaan likhiye miTaa de jo fazaa ki tirgi maahaul ki pasti koi aisaa bhi sher ai shaairaan-e-khush-bayaan likhiye bapaa hain har jihat mein aatish-o-aahan ke hangaame kahaan is daur mein jaur-o-jafaa-e-mahvashaan likhiye khatar-haa-e-rah-e-majnun kaa qissa kyuun bayaan kijiye nazar ko naaqa-e-lailaa khirad ko saarbaan likhiye yahi hain yaadgaar-e-ghuncha-o-gul is zamaane mein inhin sukhe hue kaanTon se zikr-e-gulsitaan likhiye bayaan karne ko hai tarz-e-tapaak-e-dostaan kaafi ab is duniyaa mein kyaa rang-e-ghurur-e-dushmanaan likhiye rivaayaat-e-kuhan mein dilkashi baaqi nahin 'akhtar' nae andaaz se taarikh-e-shahr-e-gul-rukhaan likhiye"

"zulm sahte rahe shukr karte rahe aai lab tak na ye daastaan aaj tak mujh ko hairat rahi anjuman mein tiri kyuun hain khaamosh ahl-e-zabaan aaj tak ishq mahv-e-gham-e-zindagi ho gayaa husn madhosh-e-ishva-taraazi rahaa ahl-e-dil hosh mein aa chuke hain magar hai vahi aalam-e-dil-baraan aaj tak aise guzre hain ahl-e-nazar raah se jin ke qadmon se zarre munavvar hue aur aise munavvar jinhein dekh kar rashk karti rahi kahkashaan aaj tak kaarvaanon ke rahbar ne raahzan phir bhi manzil pe kuchh raah-rau aa gae vo nae kaarvaanon ke rahbar bane jin se hai azmat-e-rahbaraan aaj tak mushkilein aafatein haadse saanehe aae 'akhtar' miri raah mein kis qadar mujh ko aage baDhaataa rahaa hai magar meraa dil meraa azm-e-javaan aaj tak"

"kaun suntaa hai sirf zaat ki baat lab pe hai mere kaaenaat ki baat kyuun shikan paD gai hai abru par main to kahtaa huun ek baat ki baat shama roti hai taare Dubte hain ab fasaana banegi raat ki baat subh-e-nau muskuraane vaali hai kyaa kahein shab ke haadsaat ki baat muztarib ho rahe hain divaane hai tumhaari navaazishaat ki baat bazm-e-'akhtar' mein kyuun khamosh ho tum hai ye bejaa takallufaat ki baat"

"yuun badalti hai kahin barq-o-sharar ki surat qaabil-e-did hui hai gul-e-tar ki surat zulf ki aaD mein thi jaan-e-nazar ki surat raat guzri to nazar aai sahar ki surat un ke lab par hai tabassum miri aankhon mein surur kyaa dikhaai hai duaaon ne asar ki surat qaafile vaalo nae qaafila-saalaar aae ab badal jaaegi andaaz-e-safar ki surat kyaa karishma hai mire jazba-e-aazaadi kaa thi jo divaar kabhi ab hai vo dar ki surat ab koi hausla-afzaa-e-hunar hai 'akhtar' ab nazar aaegi arbaab-e-hunar ki surat"

"na raaz-e-ibtidaa samjho na raaz-e-intihaa samjho nazar vaalon tumhein karnaa hai ab duniyaa mein kyaa samjho talab mein sidq hai to ek din manzil pe pahunchoge qadam aage baDhaao khud ko apnaa rahnumaa samjho ye kyaa andaaz hai itnaa gurez ahl-e-tamannaa se khudaa taufiq de to ahl-e-dil kaa muddaaa samjho tumhaare har ishaare par sar-e-taslim kham lekin guzaarish hai ki jazbaat-e-mohabbat ko zaraa samjho ho koi mauj-e-tufaan yaa havaa-e-tund kaa jhonkaa jo pahunchaa de lab-e-saahil usi ko naakhudaa samjho jise dekho vahi badmast hi maghrur hai hamdam koi banda nahin duniyaa mein kis kis ko khudaa samjho yahaan rahbar ke parde mein bahut rahzan hain ai 'akhtar' raho duur us se tum jis ko vafaa naa-aashnaa samjho"

"zabaan band rahi dil kaa muddaaa na kahaa magar nigaah ne us anjuman mein kyaa na kahaa muhit-e-shauq mein ham Dubte ubharte rahe khudaa gavaah kabhi jaur-e-naa-khudaa na kahaa sanam-kada hai ki ik mahfil-e-khudaa-vandaan bahut khafaa huaa vo but jise khudaa na kahaa hazaar khizr-numaa log raaston mein mile hamaare dil ne kisi ko bhi rahnumaa na kahaa ye kaaenaat to hai khair mujh se begaana agar nigaah ne teri bhi aashnaa na kahaa"

"har lamha ataa kartaa hai paimaana saa ik shakhs aankhon mein liye baiThaa hai mai-khaana saa ik shakhs aur is ke sivaa anjuman-e-naaz mein kyaa hai hai shama saa ik shakhs to parvaana saa ik shakhs khaamosh nigaahon mein qayaamat kaa asar thaa guzraa hai sunaataa huaa afsaana saa ik shakhs ik husn-e-mukammal hai to ik ishq-saraapaa hoshyaar saa ik shakhs hai divaana saa ik shakhs ham jalva-e-asnaam se bezaar hain lekin miltaa hai vahaan ruh-e-sanam-khaana saa ik shakhs"

"sharaab aae to kaif-o-asar ki baat karo piyo to bazm mein fikr-o-nazar ki baat karo fasaana-e-kham-e-gesu mein kaif kuchh bhi nahin nizaam-e-aalam-e-zer-o-zabar ki baat karo chaman mein daam bichhaataa hai vaqt kaa sayyaad gulon se hausla-e-baal-o-par ki baat karo qabaa-e-zohd ki paakizgi to dekh chuke sharaab-khaane mein daamaan-e-tar ki baat karo kahaaniyaan shab-e-hijraan ki ho chuki hain tamaam sahar tulua hui hai sahar ki baat karo chaman chaman mein udhar ho rahi hai had-bandi khuli fazaaein jidhar hain udhar ki baat karo gulon kaa zikr bahaaron mein kar chuke 'akhtar' ab aao hosh mein barq-o-sharar ki baat karo"

"yaaron ke ikhlaas se pahle dil kaa mire ye haal na thaa ab vo chaknaachur paDaa hai jis shishe mein baal na thaa insaan aa kar nai Dagar par kho baiThaa hai hosh-o-havaas pahle bhi behosh thaa lekin aisaa bhi bad-haal na thaa gulshan gulshan viraani hai jangal jangal sannaaTaa haae vo din jab har manzil mein shorish-e-gham kaa kaal na thaa kyuun re divaane shahr yahi hai ik ik pal bhaari hai jahaan apne viraane mein ai dil ji kaa ye janjaal na thaa ham jo luTe us shahr mein jaa kar dukh logon ko kyuun pahunchaa apni nazar thi apnaa dil thaa koi paraayaa maal na thaa teri khaak pe raushan raushan 'akhtar' jaise sitaare the tujh saa ai mahraan ki vaadi koi buland-iqbaal na thaa"

"fasurda ho ke maikhaane se nikle yahaan bhi apne begaane se nikle shafaq kaa rang gahraa kar gae aur jo shoale mere kaashaane se nikle zaraa ai gardish-e-dauraan Thaharnaa vo nikle rind maikhaane se nikle gham-e-dil kaa asar har bazm mein hai sab afsaane us afsaane se nikle kiyaa aabaad viraane ko ham ne hamin aabaad viraane se nikle jo pahunche daar tak mansur the vo hazaaron rind maikhaane se nikle nikalte ham na gham-khaane se 'akhtar' hasin mausam ke bahkaane se nikle"

"zindagi hogi miri ai gham-e-dauraan ik roz main sanvaarungaa tiri zulf-e-pareshaan ik roz gul khilaaegi nai mauj-e-bahaaraan ik roz TuuT hi jaaeinge qufl-e-dar-e-zindaan ik roz kitne uljhe hue haalaat-e-zamaana hain abhi honge shaane pe mire gesu-e-jaanaan ik roz ahl-e-zindaan se ye kah do ki zaraa sabr karein hogaa har samt gulistaan hi gulistaan ik roz aa ke ik roz jalaaungaa muraadon ke diye teri mahfil mein karungaa main charaaghaan ik roz jaan detaa huun abhi 'ishq ke andaaz pe main husn hogaa mire pahlu mein ghazal-khvaan ik roz kuchh andhere hain abhi raah mein haail 'akhtar' apni manzil pe nazar aaegaa insaan ik roz"

"koshish-e-paiham ko sai-e-raaegaan kahte raho ham chale ab tum hamaari daastaan kahte raho guftani baatein sahi naaguftani baatein sahi chup na baiTho koi afsaana yahaan kahte raho maslahat kyaa baat jo haq hi vo kah do barmalaa laakh hon ahbaab tum se bad-gumaan kahte raho ham ki the aazaad aazaadi ki khaatir mar gae jiine vaalo tum qafas ko aashiyaan kahte raho sirf kahne se zamin kyaa aasmaan ho jaaegi kuchh nahin hogaa zamin ko aasmaan kahte raho raah kyaa manzil hai kaisi har haqiqat hai fareb kaarvaan ko bhi ghubaar-e-kaarvaan kahte raho kyuun karo 'akhtar' ki baatein vo to ik divaana hai tum to yaaro apni apni daastaan kahte raho"

"kaifiyat kyaa thi yahaan aalam-e-gham se pahle kaun aayaa thaa tiri bazm mein ham se pahle sab karam hai tire andaaz-e-sitam se ai dost zauq-e-gham dil ko na thaa tere sitam se pahle bandagi teri khudaai se bahut hai aage naqsh-e-sajda hai tire naqsh-e-qadam se pahle qalb-e-insaan ko hai ab phir usi aalam ki talaash teri mahfil thi jahaan dair-o-haram se pahle ham se mansur zamaane mein kahaan hain 'akhtar' daar tak aa nahin saktaa koi ham se pahle"

"rahne de ye tanz ke nashtar ahl-e-junun bebaak nahin kaun hai apne hosh mein zaalim kis kaa garebaan chaak nahin jab thaa zamaana divaanon kaa ab farzaane aae hain jab sahraa mein laala-o-gul the ab gulshan mein khaak nahin fitnon ki arzaani se ab ek ik taar aaluda hai ham dekhein kis kis ke daaman ek bhi daaman paak nahin mauj-e-talaatum khair hain ham saahil ke qarib aate hi nahin vaqt ki rau mein bah jaaein ham aise khas-o-khaashaak nahin dard-o-karb se hashr bapaa honTon pe tabassum hai 'akhtar' dil kaa aalam kuchh bhi rahe aankhein to magar namnaak nahin"

"duur tak raushni hai ghaur se dekh maut bhi zindagi hai ghaur se dekh un charaaghon ke baad ai duniyaa kis qadar tirgi hai ghaur se dekh rahnumaaon kaa jazba-e-isaar ye bhi ik rahzani hai ghaur se dekh dushmani ko buraa na kah ai dost dekh kyaa dosti hai ghaur se dekh tark-e-tadbir-o-justuju ke baad zindagi zindagi hai ghaur se dekh gar ye shabnam kaa rang laayaa hai har taraf taazgi hai ghaur se dekh hain tahayyur mein vo bhi ai 'akhtar' kyaa tiri shaairi hai ghaur se dekh"

"ye mohabbat ki javaani kaa samaan hai ki nahin ab mire zer-e-qadam kaahkashaan hai ki nahin daaman-e-rind-e-balaa-nosh ko dekh ai saaqi parcham-e-khvaajgi-e-kaun-o-makaan hai ki nahin muskuraate hue guzre the idhar se kuchh log aaj pur-nur guzar-gaah-e-zamaaan hai ki nahin husn hi husn hai gulzaar-e-junun mein raqsaan ishq kaa aalam-e-sad-rang javaan hai ki nahin raah par aa hi gae aaj bhaTakne vaale raahbar dekh vo manzil kaa nishaan hai ki nahin laakh girdaab-o-talaatum se guzar kar ai dost ab safina miraa saahil pe ravaan hai ki nahin tazkire apne har ik bazm mein hain ai 'akhtar' aaj mohmal si hadis-e-digaraan hai ki nahin"

"na jaane qaafile poshida kis ghubaar mein hain ki manzilon ke charaagh ab tak intizaar mein hain bachaa bachaa ke guzarnaa hai daaman-e-hasti sharik-e-khaar bhi kuchh jashn-e-nau-bahaar mein hain kisi jadid talaatum kaa intizaar na ho sunaa to hai ki safine abhi qaraar mein hain pukaarte hain ki dauDo guzar na jaae ye daur charaagh bujhte hue se jo rahguzaar mein hain abhi to duur hai manzil ye qaafilon ke hujum abhi to marhala-e-jabr-o-ikhtiyaar mein hain abhi bahaar ne sikhi kahaan hai dil-jui hazaar daagh abhi qalb-e-laala-zaar mein hain nikhar nikhar ke jo masmum kar rahe hain fazaa kuchh aise phuul bhi 'akhtar' nai bahaar mein hain"

"luTaao jaan to banti hai baat kis ne kahaa ye bazm-e-ishq mein raaz-e-hayaat kis ne kahaa rah-e-talab mein sunaataa koi taraana-e-nau yahaan fasaana-e-zaat-o-sifaat kis ne kahaa abhi savaabit-o-sayyaar mein hai fasl bahut simaT chuki hai bahut kaaenaat kis ne kahaa har ek choT pe khulti hai aankh insaan ki hain khizr-e-raah-e-talab haadsaat kis ne kahaa ham aasmaan ko zamin par utaar laae magar abhi nahin hai shuur-e-hayaat kis ne kahaa ham apni dhun mein hain masruf kis taraf dekhein hamein nahin hai gham-e-iltifaat kis ne kahaa hamein sukun mayassar nahin magar 'akhtar' hamaare daur ko daur-e-najaat kis ne kahaa"

"nadim baagh mein josh-e-numu ki baat na kar bahaar aa to gai rang-o-bu ki baat na kar ajiib bhul-bhulayyaan hai shaahraah-e-hayat bhaTakne vaale yahaan justuju ki baat na kar tabaah kar na mazaaq-e-junun ki khuddaari dil-e-tabaah kisi tund-khu ki baat na kar khud apne tarz-e-amal ko sanvaar aur sanvaar mire rafiq tariq-e-adu ki baat na kar gurez-e-husn ko andaaz-e-husn kahte hain nazar se dekh magar khub-ru ki baat na kar ye barq-e-husn jalaati to hai magar naaseh vo aur shai hai mire shoala-khu ki baat na kar ye mai-kade ki fazaa kah rahi hai ai 'akhtar' ki tishnagi mein bhi jaam-o-subu ki baat na kar"