In his major Sufi epics—such as Manteq al-Tayr, Elahi Nameh, and Mosibat Nameh—Farid al-Din Attar frequently employs the motif of encounters between Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni and various 'madmen' (diwaneh). Mahmud represents the pinnacle of worldly power and ambition, while the socially marginalized madmen possess profound inner spiritual clarity. These mad figures act as mouthpieces for divine truth, openly rebuking the mighty king for his arrogance, spiritual poverty, and misplaced priorities. This recurring thematic device is used by Attar to highlight the Sufi contrast between superficial earthly authority and genuine spiritual awareness.