In Chapter 19, Poem 16 of Attar's Mokhtar Nameh, the poet emphasizes that even the most infinitesimal remnant of self-awareness or ego—described metaphorically as a 'single hair' (یک سر موی)—is an insurmountable barrier on the spiritual path. Attar warns that as long as this minute trace of self exists, seeking a spiritual master or guide (پیری طلبیدن) is fraught with extreme danger. The poem posits that true spiritual realization requires complete self-annihilation; otherwise, any spiritual pursuit tainted by the ego will only lead to further delusion or peril, making the seeker's ignorance a safer state than a flawed spiritual quest.