In Fariduddin Attar's The Conference of the Birds, the tale of Majnun donning a sheepskin to infiltrate Layla's neighborhood serves as a profound allegory for the extreme devotion and self-effacement required on the spiritual path. By hiding among a shepherd's flock, Majnun willingly sacrifices his human dignity and identity to catch a mere scent of his beloved. Attar uses this story to teach that a true seeker must be ready to abandon their ego, endure public shame, and undergo profound hardships to attain proximity to the Divine, represented by Layla.