In the 8th tale of Attar's 'Elahi Nameh', Sultan Mahmud's interaction with the sleeping Ayaz serves as an allegory for the Sufi concept of Fana (annihilation of the ego). While Ayaz is unconscious and devoid of self-awareness, the Sultan (representing the Divine) showers him with affection and declares his state to be perfect. However, the moment Ayaz awakens and regains his selfhood, Mahmud states that the 'Beloved' has been lost. This illustrates the mystical principle that the individual ego acts as a veil; true union and the manifestation of divine presence can only occur when the seeker's self-awareness is completely absent.