بخش 39 - حکایت آن پیر عرب کی دلالت کرد حلیمه را به استعانت به بتان

An old man with a staff approached her, saying, “Why, what hath befallen thee, O Halíma,

That thou didst let such a fire (of grief) blaze (forth) from thy heart and consume these bowels (of the bystanders) with mourning?”

She replied, “I am Ahmad's (Mohammed's) trusted foster-mother, so I brought him (back) to hand him over to his grandsire.

When I arrived in the Hatím, voices were coming (down) and I was hearing (them) from the air.

When I heard from the air those melodious strains, because of that sound I laid down the infant there,

To see whose voice is (the origin of) this cry, for it is a very beautiful cry and very delightful.

I saw no sign of any one around me: the cry was not ceasing for one moment.

When I returned (to my senses) from the bewilderments of my heart, I did not see the child there (where I had left him): alas for my heart!”

He (the old man) said, “O daughter, do not grieve, for I will show unto thee a queen,

Who, if she wish, will tell what has happened to the child: she knows the dwelling-place of the child and his setting-out (on the way).”

Then Halíma said, “Oh, my soul be a ransom for thee, O goodly and fair-spoken Shaykh!

Come, show me that queen of clairvoyance who hath knowledge of what has happened to my child.”

He brought her to ‘Uzzá, saying, “This idol is greatly prized for information concerning the Unseen.

Through her we have found thousands that were lost, when we hastened towards her in devotion.”

The old man prostrated himself before her (‘Uzzá) and said at once, “O Sovereign of the Arabs, O sea of munificence!”

(Then) he said, “O ‘Uzzá, thou hast done many favours (to us), so that we have been delivered from snares.

On account of thy favour the duty (of worshipping thee) has become obligatory to the Arabs, so that the Arabs have submitted to thee.

In hope of thee this Halíma of (the tribe) Sa‘d has come into the shadow of thy willow-bough,

For an infant child of hers is lost: the name of that child is Mohammed.”

When he said “Mohammed,” all those idols immediately fell headlong and prostrate,

Saying, “Begone, O old man! What is this search after that Mohammed by whom we are deposed?

By him we are overthrown and reduced to a collection of (broken) stones; by him we are made unsaleable and valueless.

Those phantoms which the followers of vain opinion used to see from us at times during the Fatra

Will disappear now that his royal court has arrived: the water is come and has torn up (annulled) the ablution with sand.

Get thee far off, O old man! Do not kindle mischief! Hark, do not burn us with (the fire of) Ahmad's (Mohammed's) jealousy!

Get thee far off, for God's sake, O old man, lest thou (too) be burnt by the fire of Fore- ordainment.

What squeezing of the dragon's tail is this? Dost thou know at all what the announcement (of Mohammed's advent) is (in its effects)?

At this news the heart of sea and mine will surge; at this news the seven heavens will tremble.”

When the old man heard these words from the stones (idols), the ancient old man let his staff drop (from his hand);

Then, from tremor and fear and dread caused by that proclamation (of the idols), the old man was striking his teeth together.

Even as a naked man in winter, he was shuddering and saying, “O destruction!”

When she (Halíma) saw the old man in such a state (of terror), in consequence of that marvel the woman lost (the power of) deliberation.

She said, “O old man, though I am in affliction (on account of the loss of Mohammed), I am in manifold bewilderment (not knowing whether I should grieve or rejoice).

At one moment the wind is making a speech to me, at another moment the stones are schooling me.

The wind addresses me with articulate words, the stones and mountains give me intelligence of (the real nature of) things.

Once (before) they of the Invisible carried off my child—they of the Invisible, the green-winged ones of Heaven.

Of whom shall I complain? To whom shall I tell this plaint? I am become crazy and in a hundred minds.

His (God's) jealousy has closed my lips (so that I am unable) to unfold (the tale of) the mystery: I say (only) this much, that my child is lost.

If I should say anything else now, the people would bind me in chains as though I were mad.”

The old man said to her, “O Halíma, rejoice; bow down in thanksgiving and do not rend thy face.

Do not grieve: he will not become lost to thee; nay, but the (whole) world will become lost in him.

Before and behind (him) there are always hundreds of thousands of keepers and guardians (watching over him) in jealous emulation.

Didst not thou see how those idols with all their arts fell headlong at the name of thy child?

This is a marvellous epoch on the face of the earth: I have grown old, and I have not seen aught of this kind.”

Since (even) the stones (idols) bewailed this (prophetic) mission, think what (tribulation) it will set over (bring down upon) sinners!

The stone is guiltless in respect of being an object of worship, (but) you are not under compulsion in worshipping it.

That one that was under compulsion has become so afraid: consider (then) what (terrible) things will be fastened upon the guilty!