In this allegory from Attar's Manteq al-Tayr (The Conference of the Birds), the diligent dust-sifter represents the relentless spiritual seeker traversing the Valley of Quest (Talab). While Sultan Mahmud questions the value of such tedious, lowly labor and offers him the ease of a king, the sifter persists because his painstaking effort has uncovered a hidden, profound spiritual treasure. The tale illustrates a central Sufi principle: seekers must demonstrate unwavering perseverance, humility, and complete dedication to the search for divine truth, recognizing that spiritual wealth is attained through arduous, continuous effort rather than worldly power or status.