In Farid al-Din Attar's 'The Conference of the Birds', the tale of the man weeping over his deceased friend illustrates the Sufi teaching that worldly attachments are inherently flawed due to their transience. Shibli admonishes the grieving man, explaining that choosing a mortal beloved inevitably leads to sorrow and loss. Instead, he advises the seeker to cultivate a bond with an eternal Friend (God) who never dies. This narrative emphasizes the necessity of transcending ephemeral physical forms and redirecting one's love toward the Divine to attain true spiritual peace.