In Jalaluddin Rumi's Masnavi, the conclusion of the 'Tale of the Roman Envoy and Caliph Umar' vividly illustrates the central Sufi concept of fana (spiritual annihilation or the transcending of the ego). Overwhelmed by the divine wisdom and presence of Caliph Umar, the Roman envoy completely loses his worldly identity and forgets his diplomatic mission. Rumi employs a series of alchemical metaphors to describe this transformative elevation: just as a flood merges seamlessly into the sea, lifeless bread becomes living tissue when consumed by a human, and dark firewood turns into radiant light when sacrificed to fire, the earthly soul is elevated only when it annihilates itself in the divine presence. The passage emphasizes that true spiritual liberation requires escaping the 'cage' of the ego and worldly fame, suggesting that associating with spiritually awakened guides transforms a spiritually dormant seeker into one endowed with true divine sight.