M6:197 — گفت لیکن فاش گردد ازسماع / کل سر جاوز الاثنین شاع

Translation: He said, "But it will be revealed by hearing; / Every secret that passes two becomes known." Meaning: This verse is Abu Talib's reply to the Prophet Muhammad's invitation to faith. He expresses fear that a secret shared beyond two people will inevitably spread, and he dreads the social repercussions from the Arabs if his conversion becomes public.

This verse presents Abu Talib's response to the Prophet Muhammad's earnest invitation to openly embrace faith. When the Prophet reassures him, saying, "O uncle, utter a single declaration of faith, / That I may contend with God on your behalf"—meaning he would intercede for him before the Divine—Abu Talib demurs. He invokes a well-known Arabic proverb: "Kullu sirrin jāwazal ithnayn shāʿa," which means, "Every secret that passes two becomes known." He interprets "two" as either two lips or two persons, indicating that once a secret is spoken, it inevitably spreads. His underlying fear is the social fallout: "I will remain on the tongues of these Arabs, / And be disgraced before them because of this."

For Mevlana, this kind of hesitation and fear of public opinion, this "faint-heartedness" (bad-delī), signifies a lack of "divine attraction" (jazb-e ḥaqq). Had divine magnetism truly seized his being, such trepidation and concern for public censure would not have lingered. He would have found the courage to stand firm in his faith, like other companions of the Prophet who sacrificed their lives for it. But the fear of what people would say—lest they remark, "Because of his child, he abandoned his trusted religion"—deprived him of this divine gift. This, in Mevlana's view, is a "rotten norm" (nāmūs-e pūsīde) or a "trick of the heart" (makr-e del) that prevents individuals from expressing their inner truths. We observe this today, particularly in the West, where many feel embarrassed to openly declare their religiosity or spiritual affiliations, even as they live devoutly in private.

Mevlana situates Abu Talib's choice within the profound issue of "free will" (ikhtiyār). He then turns in supplication to God, crying out, "Help, O Helper of the desperate, / From these two pernicious branches of free will!" This very free will, that divine "trust" (amānat) which mountains and oceans refused to bear but which humanity accepted, can lead to "bad choices" (sūʾ-e entekhāb). It can cast one into a well of doubt and fear of others. True courage lies in standing by one's convictions and truth, regardless of public blame or praise. Without divine attraction, one easily falls prey to such "tricks of the heart" and "faint-heartedness"—a choice that estranges one from the path of love and union, drawing them instead into the abyss of fear and self-alienation. Mevlana's verse here is more than a historical anecdote; it is a moral and mystical lesson on the paramount importance of courage and spiritual freedom in the pursuit of truth.

Key takeaways

• A Secret Shared is a Secret Lost: This Arabic proverb underscores Abu Talib's fear of his faith becoming public.
• Fear of Public Censure: The dread of others' judgment can impede the expression of inner truths and authentic choices.
• Faint-heartedness vs. Divine Attraction: Mevlana sees such hesitation and fear as an indicator of insufficient divine magnetism.
• Free Will and Misguided Choices: The acceptance of divine trust (free will) can expose individuals to poor decisions that undermine spiritual courage.
• Spiritual Courage: Standing firm in one's faith and truth, beyond the fear of public opinion, is the essence of spiritual freedom and authenticity.