This concept explains the allegory of the man who falls into a well while fleeing a wild camel in Section 59 of Sana'i's Hadiqat al-Haqiqah.

Symbolic Elements of the Allegory

• The Wild Camel: Represents death or the inevitable passage of time pursuing humanity.
• The Well: Represents the deceptive nature of the physical world (dunya).
• The Bush or Roots: Represents the fragile span of human life that the man clings to.
• The Black and White Mice: Represent night and day constantly gnawing away at the roots of life.
• The Dragon at the Bottom: Represents the grave or the threat of hellfire waiting to swallow the soul.
• The Four Snakes: Represent the four temperaments, bodily humors, or physical elements that constantly threaten human health and stability.
• The Honey or Sweetness: Represents the passing, trivial pleasures of the material world that distract humans from their imminent mortality and spiritual danger.