o desh aane waale bataa
o desh aane waale bataa
kis haal me hain yaarane vatan
wo baage vatan fir daus vatan
o desh aane waale bataa
o desh aane waale bataa

kya ab bhi waha ke baago me
mastana havaaye aati hain
kya ab bhi waha ke parvat par
ghanghor ghataaye chhati hain
kya ba bhi waha ki barkhaye
vaise hi dilo ko bhati hain
o desh aane waale bataa
o desh aane waale bataa

wo shahar jo hamse chhuta hain
wo shahar hamara kaisa hain
sab log hame pyaare hain magr
wo jag se pyaara kaisa hain, kaisa hain
o desh aane waale bataa
o desh aane waale bataa

kya ab bhi vatan me vaise hi
sarmast najaare hote hain
kya ab bhi suhaani raato me
wo chaand sitare hote hain
ham khel ko khela karte the
ab bhi wo saare hote hain
o desh aane waale bataa
o desh aane waale bataa

shab bazm-e-harifaa sajti hain
yaa sham dhale so jaati hain
yaaro ki basar aukaat hain kya
har anjuman nara kaisa hain, kaisa hain
kya ab bhi mahakti mandir se
naapus ki aavaaz aat hain
kya ab bhi mukshad masjid par
mastano jaan tharrati hain
kya ab bhi waha ke panghat par
panhariya paani bharti hain
angdaai ka naksha ban ban kar
sab maathe par gaagar dharti huye
aur apne gharo ko jaate huye
hansti hui chuhle karti hain karti hain
o desh aane waale bataa
o desh aane waale bataa

main hairaan lahu ki dhaar hua
bolaana bhi kya gulnaar huaa
kis rang ka hain dariya ae atak
raavi ka kinara kaisa hain, kaisa hain
ae desh aane vaale magar
tumne to na itna bhi puchha
wo kavi jise banvas mila
wo dard ka mara kaisa hain kaisa hain
o desh aane waale bataa
o desh aane waale bataa

kya ab bhi kisi ke sine me
baaki hain hamaari chaah bataa
kya yaad hame bhi karta hain
ab yaaro me koi aah bataa
o desh aane waale bataa
o desh aane waale bataa
liliyaah bataa liliyaah bataa
liliyaah bataa liliyaah bataa

O traveler from that land, tell,
In what state are the friends of the homeland?
That garden of the homeland, that paradise of the homeland,
O traveler from that land, tell.

Do the intoxicating breezes still arrive
In the gardens there?
Do the dense clouds still gather
On the mountains there?
Do the rains still enchant hearts
As they once did?
O traveler from that land, tell.

That city we left behind,
How is our city now?
All people are dear to us, but
How is it, dearer than the world?
O traveler from that land, tell.

Do the same ecstatic sights still unfold
In the homeland?
Do the same moon and stars still grace
The lovely nights?
The games we used to play,
Do they all still happen?
O traveler from that land, tell.

Does the night of friendship still gather,
Or do they sleep when the evening falls?
What is the state of friends' lives?
How is every gathering, how is it?
Does the voice of prayer still arise,
Fragrant from the temples?
Does the ecstatic soul still tremble
At the sacred mosques?
Do the water-bearers still fill their vessels
At the village well?
Forming the image of a languid stretch,
They carry the pitchers on their heads,
And going towards their homes,
They laugh and chatter.
O traveler from that land, tell.

I am a stream of bewildered blood,
And what a rose-filled bloom is Bolan!
Of what color is the river Attock?
How is the bank of the Ravi, how is it?
O traveler from that land, but
You did not even ask this much:
That poet who was exiled,
How is that afflicted one, how is he?
O traveler from that land, tell.

Does our longing still remain
In someone's heart?
Does anyone among the friends
Still remember us with a sigh?
O traveler from that land, tell.
Liliyah tell, Liliyah tell.