In Section 5 of Attar's Asrar Nameh, the poet presents a short allegory of an insightful man standing beside a seemingly calm and infinite sea. Rather than finding peace in its stillness, the man expresses deep fear, acknowledging that a single, sudden wave could easily shatter countless ships.

In Sufi symbolism, the vast, limitless ocean frequently represents the unfathomable Divine Reality. The man's fear illustrates the spiritual state of awe (haybah) and reverence for the Divine Majesty (Jalal). It demonstrates that true spiritual insight involves recognizing the overwhelming and latent power of the Divine Will, which can instantly overturn human constructs, worldly attachments, and the fragile ego (represented by the ships) even when it appears completely at rest.