In Attar's The Conference of the Birds, the tale of the Sufi who is slapped on the neck explores the paradox of claiming spiritual annihilation (fana). When struck, the Sufi claims that the person who received the slap "died thirty years ago," suggesting he has completely transcended his ego. However, his assailant immediately points out the inherent contradiction: a truly dead person does not speak to assert their state or defend their honor. This allegory teaches that making a vocal claim of egolessness is itself an act of the ego. True spiritual annihilation requires the absolute cessation of self-assertion, as even the awareness and proclamation of one's own non-existence is a remaining veil on the spiritual path.