In Fariduddin Attar's The Conference of the Birds, 'The Tale of the Muhtasib Who Beat a Drunkard' serves as a profound critique of religious hypocrisy and spiritual blindness. When a Muhtasib (religious police or market inspector) violently beats a drunkard for consuming wine, the drunkard astutely points out that the Muhtasib is actually far more intoxicated than he is—drunk on arrogance, self-righteousness, and worldly power. Attar uses this narrative to illustrate that hidden, internal spiritual vices like pride and hypocrisy are often more corrupting and blinding than visible, outward sins.