A harsh-voiced preacher considered himself to have a pleasant voice and raised a useless cry. It was said that the croaking of the raven was in the melody of his tunes, or the verse “Indeed, the harshest of sounds” was about him.

When the preacher, Abu al-Fawaris, brayed

He has a clamor that shakes the mountains of Fars.

The people of the village, due to the position he held, endured his affliction and did not consider it wise to bother him. Until one of the preachers of that region, who had a secret enmity with him, once came to visit him; he said: I have seen a dream about you, may it be good. He said: What did you see? He said: I saw that you had a pleasant voice and people were comfortable with your breath.

The preacher thought about this for a moment and said: This is a blessed dream that you saw, which made me aware of my flaw. It became clear that I have an unpleasant voice and people are in pain from my loud recitation. I repented that from now on I will not give a sermon except softly.

I am pained by the companionship of a friend

Who makes my bad manners seem good.

He sees my flaws as art and perfection

He makes my thorns seem like roses and jasmine.

Where is the impudent, impure enemy

So that he may show me my flaws?