In the Conference of the Birds (Manteq al-Tayr), Farid al-Din al-Attar uses the narrative of Imam Ali showing compassion to his assassin, Ibn Muljam, as a rhetorical tool to dismantle sectarian fanaticism (ta'assub). Attar argues that since Ali exhibited such profound forgiveness—insisting his killer receive a drink first and refusing to enter Paradise without him—it is illogical to believe he harbored rancor or enmity toward other early Islamic companions like Abu Bakr. This concept highlights the Sufi integration of historical narratives to promote spiritual unity and criticize sectarian division.