The Conference of the Birds, pgs. 213-229 Summary

As the hoopoe pauses, the birds tremble in fear how difficult the Quest is. A remnant travels for years along the narrow Way. Birds perish in every possible way and some turn aside. Only one in 100,000—30 birds—survives and arrives exhausted, broken, and awestruck. The place is not what they expect. A herald arrives to tell them Simorgh is too great to be bothered with them and sends them home. They remember Majnoun seeking abuse from Leili to the world's praise; they desire be burnt up like the moth in union with Simorgh. Love makes the ragged birds fearless and the proud herald relents. He leads them through 100 veils to the throne, a place of Light of Light. Each is given a piece of paper describing the meaning of...