64 THE MASNAVI. [BOOK II
Now the eye sees how to distinguish colours,
It sees the difference between rubies and pebbles.
The eye distinguishes jewels from dust,
Hence it is dust makes the eye smart.
Makers of base coin hate the daylight,
Coins of pure gold love the daylight,
Because daylight is the mirror that reflects them,
So that they see their own perfect beauty.
Mystical Meaning of "Daylight" (p. 106).
God has named the resurrection "that day;"
Day shows off the beauty of red and yellow.
Wherefore "Day" in truth is the mystery of the saints;
One day of their moons is as whole years.
Know, "Day" is the reflection of the mystery of the saints,
Eye-closing night that of their hidden secrets.
Therefore hath God revealed the chapter "Daylight,"1
Which daylight is the light of the heart of Mustafa.
On the other view, that daylight means "The Friend,"
It is also a reflection of the same prophet.
For, as it is wrong to swear by a transitory being,
How can we suppose a transitory being spoken of by God?
The Friend of God said, "I love not them that set!"2
How, then, could Allah have meant a transitory being?
Again, the words "by the night" mean Muhammad's veiling,
Namely, the fair earthly body that he bore;
When his sun proceeded from heaven on highKoran xciii.: "By the daylight and by the night thy Lord hath not forsaken thee nor been displeased." 2 Koran vi, 76: "And when the Into that body's night, it said, "He hath not forsaken thee;" Union with God arose out of the depth of that disgrace; That boon was the word, "He hath not been displeased." might overshadowed Abraham, he beheld a star, and he said, "This is my Iord; but when it set he said 'I love not gods which set.'"
