In Jalaluddin Rumi's Masnavi, as the narrative returns to the tale of Zayd, Rumi describes Zayd's ultimate spiritual state as one of complete annihilation (fana) of the ego. Having attained profound spiritual vision, Zayd's individual identity has entirely vanished. To illustrate this condition, Rumi employs the metaphor of a star that is rendered invisible when the sun rises. Just as a star remains in the sky but its light is completely effaced by the overwhelming brilliance of the sunlight, Zayd's individual self and outward senses have been subsumed by the absolute "light of our Sultan's knowledge." Rumi emphasizes that in this state of divine absorption, any worldly attachment or pursuit other than "love for the most beautiful God" is perceived as "soul-wrenching agony." Consequently, the spiritual seeker is urged to relentlessly strive through the darkness of worldly existence to discover this divine "Water of Life."