M6:203 — که ای خداوند کریم و بردبار / ده امانم زین دو شاخهٔ اختیار

Translation: O Lord, Generous and Forbearing, Grant me refuge from these two branches of choice.

Meaning: Mowlana implores God to save him from the bewilderment and distress that comes with the power of choice, for despite its grandeur, free will also brings forth immense difficulties and potential pitfalls.

In this verse, Mowlana utters a fervent cry of supplication to God, seeking refuge from the “two branches of ikhtiyār (choice/free will).” This is the lament of a great mystic, not an objection to the Creator. I have often stated that Mowlana does not view the world as crooked or flawed; he perceives it as perfect and complete. Therefore, his lament about "choice" is not an objection to choice itself as a divine blessing that distinguishes humans from other beings, but rather to its terrifying and soul-wrenching consequences.

Choice, though an immense treasure bestowed by God upon humanity, elevating its dignity, is simultaneously the source of profound doubts and bewildering crossroads. "Should I do this or that?" This perpetual question places humans at junctures where eternal felicity or perpetual misery can hinge upon those difficult and arduous decisions. It is here that Mowlana, with his characteristic profound insight, concludes that this immense treasure can ultimately lead to ruin and misguidance.

The phrase "these two wicked branches of choice" (زین دو شاخهٔ اختیارات خبیث) might seem peculiar at first glance. However, Mowlana deeply understands that "choice" can become intertwined with "wickedness" (khabāthat). This wickedness is not inherent to choice itself, but arises from human misuse and deviation in the path of choosing. He does not ask God to strip him of choice, rendering him an unthinking being. Rather, he asks to be elevated to a state beyond the realm of choice; a state where soul-burning indecision and perplexity cease to exist, and where one is safeguarded from the harm of incorrect choices. This plea for liberation signifies the profound depth of Mowlana's mystical experience, which contemplates stations beyond this world of constant doubt.

I have previously noted that Mowlana's interpretation of the Amanat (Trust) verse in the Quran—where God offered the Trust to the heavens and the earth, but they refused it, and humanity accepted it—is that this Trust was precisely "choice." Humanity, with immense courage and perhaps unaware of the full weight of the responsibility, accepted it. Man did not know that by embracing this "power of choosing," he was exposing himself to such a chasm of misjudgment and straying. Thus, this lament is not one of regret, but rather a cry born from understanding the immense burden humanity has undertaken. He now asks God to assist him in carrying this burden or to guide him to a safe harbor, immune from the tempests of choice. This verse epitomizes one of the most profound existential challenges of humanity in Mowlana's view.

Key takeaways

• Mowlana laments the internal conflict and difficult consequences of choice, not the divine gift of free will itself.
• While choice is the source of human dignity, it is also the origin of profound doubts and fateful decisions.
• The phrase "wicked choices" refers to the potential for misuse of free will and its entanglement with malevolence.
• Mowlana prays to be elevated to a state beyond the perplexing realm of choice, where the tranquility of liberation from doubt prevails.
• This verse highlights the heavy burden of the divine Trust (free will) that humanity has undertaken.