In this tale from 'The Conference of the Birds', Attar uses the Persian ethical code of 'Nan-o-Namak' (Bread and Salt) to illustrate the relationship between God and His creation. The story describes a bandit (ayyar) who spares a captive's life simply because the captive had unknowingly eaten bread provided by the bandit's wife. Attar presents this as a spiritual allegory: if even a social outcast like a bandit feels bound by the law of hospitality to protect those who have shared his food, then God—the ultimate Host who provides 'bread' to all—will certainly honor the bond of sustenance and grant mercy to His servants on the Day of Judgment.