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It is narrated that one day, Prophet Solomon noticed the absence of the hoopoe through a small hole above him. He inquired about the reason for its absence without permission and demanded a valid justification. That was when the hoopoe brought news from the land of Sheba, where a queen named Bilqis ruled, and the people worshiped the sun instead of God. As a result, the hoopoe played a role in introducing Queen Bilqis to Prophet Solomon, leading to her and her people’s conversion to monotheism.
The hoopoe holds various roles in different literary and mystical texts. Beyond encyclopedia entries, ornithology books, and popular legends, its most prominent appearance is in the story of Solomon and in Attar’s The Conference of the Birds (Manṭiq al-Ṭayr). In this work, the hoopoe serves as a metaphor for guidance and as a messenger that leads others through different valleys. The central theme of The Conference of the Birds narrates the journey of birds as they search for the legendary Simurgh.
The Conference of the Birds is a poem by Attar of Nishapur, consisting of 4,696 verses. This book is rooted in the Treatise on the Birds (Risālat al-Ṭayr) by Avicenna and Al-Ghazali and later served as an inspiration for great poets like Rumi and Jami.
In this work, Attar recounts fascinating tales. While some of these stories were passed down orally or recorded in earlier texts, Attar reimagined them, making slight modifications to enhance their meaning. The book’s title is influenced by mystical thought and derives from verse 16 of Surah An-Naml in the Quran.
So, what is the story about?
The birds gather and conclude that, unlike other animals, they lack a king. Thus, they embark on a journey to find the Simurgh, the king of birds. In this quest, the hoopoe, a wise elder among them, emerges as a guide. The hoopoe’s role is to lead the other birds toward their true essence and spiritual enlightenment.
The hoopoe then speaks before the assembly of birds, recounting the hardships, ascetic practices, and journeys it has undertaken. Through this, it seeks to assure the other birds of its vast experience and deep wisdom.
In this section, the hoopoe explicitly tells the birds that they are entangled in various attachments, and until they free themselves from these bonds, they will never reach the land of Qaf or meet the Simurgh. With the hoopoe’s guidance, the birds prepare for their journey:
First, they enter the Valley of Inquiry, where they are not only volunteers for the cause but also seek to find the right path, persevering on this journey with determination. Many of the birds, however, abandon the journey due to the hardships of the path and the pain they encounter.
The remaining birds enter the second valley, the Valley of Love. In this valley, they are required to endure suffering, cruelty, and sacrifice for both themselves and their beloved. Since love does not follow reason, many more birds abandon the quest. However, those who are truly lovers of truth continue on to the third valley, the Valley of Knowledge, where they receive divine blessings and inspiration.
The birds who successfully reach the fourth valley, the Valley of Detachment from Worldly Attachments, are no longer affected by the blessings of God or any material loss or hardship. In this state, they enter the fifth valley, the Valley of Unity, where superficial and material differences such as quality, quantity, and color are no longer of concern.
Then, some of the birds, who were still not satisfied, reach the sixth valley through persistent effort: the Valley of Bewilderment. Here, the concepts of “I” and “You” disappear, and they forget who they are and what they love. They even forget their religion and beliefs. They are only devoted to their beloved and become spiritually absorbed, their hearts and souls unified with the beloved, like a single bird. (This is the state of Fana or annihilation.)
Ultimately, thirty birds reach the end of the journey. The destination is not a physical place, but the realization that the Simurgh they sought was within them all along, and they themselves are the Simurgh.
Saba, focusing on the development of individuals and organizational mechanisms, helps its clients move from good to great and experience self-actualization and sustainable growth in their professional and organizational journey.
Address: Seyed Jamaluddin Asadabadi Street (Yousef Abad), between Alley 10 and 12 – No. 94 – 5th floor – Unit 18.
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