In the Masnavi, Jalaluddin Rumi portrays Ali ibn Abi Talib as the supreme exemplar of spiritual mastery and liberation from the ego. Rumi establishes this station both through theological interpretation and narrative storytelling. For instance, he interprets the Prophet's designation of Ali as Mawla (master) to mean a spiritual liberator who frees seekers from the shackles of their own ego and worldly attachments. This theoretical perfection is practically demonstrated in narratives where Ali overcomes personal anger, most notably when he drops his sword in battle after an adversary spits on him. Together, these aspects define Ali as the perfect spiritual guide and the embodiment of self-annihilation in Rumi's Sufi framework.