58. THE MASNAVI. [BOOK I.
Know the great mystery of 'Whatever verses we cancel,
Or cause you to forget, we substitute better for them.'[1]
Whatever law God cancels, He makes as a weed,
And in its stead He brings forth a rose.
So night cancels the business of the daytime,
When the reason that lights our minds becomes inanimate.
Again, night is cancelled by the light of day,
And inanimate reason is rekindled to life by its rays.
Though darkness produces this sleep and quiet,
Is not the water of life in the darkness? [2]
Are not spirits refreshed in that very darkness?
Is not that silence the season of heavenly voices?
For from contraries contraries are brought forth,
Out of darkness was created light.
The Prophet's wars brought about the present peace,
The peace of these latter days resulted from those wars.
That conqueror of hearts cut off a thousand heads,
That the heads of his people might rest in peace."
God's rebuke to Adam for scorning Iblis (p. 9).
To whomsoever God's order comes,
He must smite with his sword even his own child.
Fear then, and revile not the wicked, For the wicked are impotent under God's commands.
In presence of God's commands bow down the neck of pride.
Scoff not nor chide even them that go astray!
One day Adam cast a look of contempt and scorn Upon Iblis, thinking what a wretch he was. He felt self-important and proud of himself, And he smiled at the actions of cursed Iblis. God Almighty cried out to him, "O pure one, Thou art wholly ignorant of hidden mysteries. If I were to blab the faults of the unfortunate, ¹ Koran ii. 100. in the land of darkness discovered
- Alluding to the "water of life" by Khizr.
