In Fariduddin Attar's 'Elahi Nameh' (The Book of God), the debate of Sheikh Abu Sa'id with the Sufi who struck a dog serves as a lesson on spiritual compassion and the hypocrisy of outward piety. When the Sufi defends his actions by claiming the dog is impure (nanamaz) and would defile his garments, Abu Sa'id rebukes his lack of empathy and self-righteousness. The story emphasizes that physical violence and inner cruelty represent a far worse spiritual impurity than any physical defilement, emphasizing the Sufi value of compassion toward all of God's creation over rigid, superficial devotion.