One (of them), indeed, (is) Bú Tálib, the Prophet's uncle: to him the revilement of the Arabs seemed terrible,
خود یکی بوطالب آن عم رسول ** مینمودش شنعهی عربان مهول
For (he thought), “What will the Arabs say of me? (They will say), ‘At the bidding of his nephew he has changed the (traditional) custom on which we rely.’”195
که چه گویندم عرب کز طفل خود ** او بگردانید دیدن معتمد
He (the Prophet) said to him, “O uncle, pronounce once the profession of faith, that I may plead with God for thee.”
گفتش ای عم یک شهادت تو بگو ** تا کنم با حق خصومت بهر تو
He (Bú Tálib) said, “But it will be spread abroad by hearsay: every secret that passes beyond the two (who share it) becomes common talk.
گفت لیکن فاش گردد ازسماع ** کل سر جاوز الاثنین شاع
I shall remain (a laughing-stock) on the tongues of these Arabs: because of this I shall become despicable in their sight.”
من بمانم در زبان این عرب ** پش ایشان خوار گردم زین سبب
But if the predestined grace had been (granted) to him, how should this faintheartedness have existed (simultaneously) with God's pull (towards Himself)?
لیک گر بودیش لطف ما سبق ** کی بدی این بددلی با جذب حق
O Thou who art the Help of those who seek help, help (me to escape) from this pillory of wicked acts of free-will.200
الغیاث ای تو غیاث المستغیث ** زین دو شاخهی اختیارات خبیث
By the heart's deceit and guile I have been so discomfited that I am left unable (even) to lament.
من ز دستان و ز مکر دل چنان ** مات گشتم که بماندم از فغان
Who am I? Heaven, with its hundred (mighty) businesses, cried out for help against this ambush of free-will,
من که باشم چرخ با صد کار و بار ** زین کمین فریاد کرد از اختیار
Saying, “Deliver me from this pillory of free-will, O gracious and long-suffering Lord!
که ای خداوند کریم و بردبار ** ده امانم زین دو شاخهی اختیار