Middle Eastern FolklorePersian Tales

Attar's Parables

Thirty birds journey across seven valleys to find their King, only to discover their own divinity.

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Illustration for Attar's Parables - a persian tales Middle Eastern Folklore story with moral lessons

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Story Summary

Explore the mystical journey of the birds in Attar's Parables. Discover how thirty birds find their King, the Simurgh, in this classic Persian Sufi tale.

The Hoopoe, the wisest of birds, gathered all the avian species to find their true King, the Simurgh. To reach his palace on Mount Qaf, they had to cross seven perilous valleys: Quest, Love, Knowledge, Detachment, Unity, Bewilderment, and Poverty. Many birds made excuses, fearing the hardships, while others perished from exhaustion or hunger along the way. After a grueling journey, only thirty birds remained. When they finally reached the destination, they found no golden palace or physical king. Instead, they looked into a pool of water and saw their own reflections. In that moment of enlightenment, they realized that 'Si-murgh' in Persian means 'thirty birds.' The King they sought was not a separate entity, but the collective soul of those who had the courage to complete the journey. They had found the Divine within themselves.

The Moral

The search for truth and the Divine is an inward journey that requires the shedding of the ego to realize one's own spiritual essence.

“If the Simurgh unveils its face to you, you will find that all the birds are but the shadows cast by that unveiling.”

Fun Fact

Farid ud-Din Attar was an 'Attar' by trade, which means he was a pharmacist and perfumer who saw hundreds of patients daily before becoming a mystic.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the moral of Attar's Parables?

The moral is that the Divine is not found in an external location, but within the self. By conquering one's ego and enduring life's hardships, a person can achieve spiritual unity with the Creator.

Who was Attar of Nishapur?

Farid ud-Din Attar was a 12th-century Persian poet and hagiographer who significantly influenced Sufi literature. He is most famous for his masterpiece, 'The Conference of the Birds,' from which these parables originate.

What do the seven valleys represent?

The seven valleys represent the stages of the soul's spiritual progression toward enlightenment. Each valley—Quest, Love, Knowledge, Detachment, Unity, Bewilderment, and Poverty—tests a different aspect of the traveler's faith and resolve.

What does the word Simurgh mean?

In Attar's clever wordplay, 'Si' means thirty and 'murgh' means bird in Persian. This reflects the story's climax where the thirty birds realize they are the Simurgh they were searching for.

Why is the Hoopoe the leader of the birds?

In Islamic tradition and Persian folklore, the Hoopoe is seen as a messenger and a symbol of wisdom. Attar uses the Hoopoe to represent a spiritual guide or Sheikh who leads seekers toward the Truth.

How did Attar influence the poet Rumi?

Rumi deeply admired Attar, famously stating that while Attar had traversed all seven cities of love, Rumi was only at the start of the first street. Attar’s mystical themes paved the way for Rumi’s later works.