The Eye is the all-encompassing vision of the Beloved—a vision beyond the lover’s comprehension and grasp. The lover therefore remains in a state of constant perplexity before the Beloved's conduct.
First, the Eye reveals to the lover his own shortcomings, yet without disgracing him before others. It gives the lover the insight to overcome his shortcomings and impurities.
Then, the Eye enables the lover to see that he has been an unbeliever, an idol-worshipper, for as long as he has believed in himself apart from the Beloved.
Finally, the Eye dazzles the lover, until the lover can do nothing but surrender unconditionally to the Beloved.
And Hafez gives voice to this mystery:
I am devastated, dazzled by the Eye, O Saqi,
Yet I welcome a thousand times every adversity sent from the Beloved.
من از چشم تو ای ساقی خراب افتادهام لیکن
بلایی کز حبیب آید هزارش مرحبا گفتم
